Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis refers to infection with Salmonella organisms, which are classified in the provided sources as gram-negative, motile, nonsporulating, facultative anaerobic bacilli belonging to Enterobacteriaceae ^[1]. The sources note that Salmonella was first identified in 1884 and that more than 2,500 serotypes of Salmonella enterica have been identified, with fewer than 100 known to cause human infection ^[1]. Nontyphoidal Salmonella serotypes are associated with diarrheal illness, while S. enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A, B, and C cause enteric fever ^[1].

The provided sources indicate that nontyphoidal Salmonella commonly presents with gastroenteritis and is often self-limiting ^[1]. Enteric fever is described as a potentially life-threatening acute febrile systemic infection ^[1]. Another source notes that Salmonella is a leading cause of gastroenteritis in humans and animals, supporting its relevance as an enteric pathogen ^[2]. Source-backed detail on duration, specific complications, or the full symptom profile is not yet available in the supplied material ^[2][1].

Salmonella is characterized in the sources as a major foodborne pathogen with substantial serovar diversity, including more than 2,600 characterized serovars in one review and more than 2,500 Salmonella enterica serotypes in another ^[2][1]. Human infection is linked mainly to contaminated food and water, and one review emphasizes the farm-to-fork continuum as the pathway by which human exposure occurs ^[2][1]. Animal-derived foods are highlighted as common sources, with poultry and poultry products named as primary contributors, followed by beef, pork, and fish; fruits and vegetables are also mentioned as non-animal-derived sources ^[2]. The sources also note increasing concern about antibiotic resistance and multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains ^[2][1].

Transmission occurs through direct contact with an infected person or through indirect exposure by consuming contaminated food and water ^[1]. One review further describes human exposure as occurring through the farm-to-fork continuum and most commonly being linked to animal-derived food products ^[2]. Poultry and poultry products are identified as primary contributors, with beef, pork, fish, and some fruits and vegetables also implicated in the provided material ^[2].

The sources specifically identify persons at risk for vaccination in the context of enteric fever prevention, but they do not define that group in detail ^[1]. One review emphasizes that poultry, poultry products, and other animal-derived foods are common exposure sources, which implies elevated relevance for people exposed through food handling or consumption of these products, although the supplied text does not enumerate occupational groups ^[2]. A separate source notes that anti-interferon-γ autoantibody-associated immunodeficiency is associated with salmonellosis in more than half of reported cases and is common in reports from Southeast Asia, but the material does not establish this as a general population risk group for all salmonellosis ^[3].

The sources identify vaccination of persons at risk, improvement of sanitation, promotion of food hygiene, and detection and control of chronic carriers as essential preventive control measures for enteric fever ^[1]. More broadly, the foodborne transmission pattern described in the sources supports prevention through interruption of contamination along the food chain and careful handling of contaminated food and water exposures ^[2][1]. Source-backed detail on specific vaccine products, schedules, or non-enteric-fever prevention measures is not yet available in the provided material ^[1].

In surveillance terms, salmonellosis should be interpreted as a foodborne bacterial syndrome with distinct clinical and epidemiologic patterns for nontyphoidal disease and enteric fever ^[2][1]. The provided sources indicate rising concern about antibiotic resistance and multidrug-resistant or extensively drug-resistant Salmonella, which makes resistance trends important to monitor alongside case counts ^[2][1]. Source-backed detail on formal case definitions, reporting thresholds, or routine laboratory surveillance methods is not yet available in the supplied material ^[1].

1. 1 Qamar FN et al. Salmonellosis Including Enteric Fever. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2022 Feb. PMID: 34794677. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2021.09.007. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34794677/
2. 2 Lamichhane B et al. Salmonellosis: An Overview of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Antimicrobial Resistant Infections. Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 Jan 13. PMID: 38247636. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics13010076. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38247636/
3. 3 Shih HP et al. Anti-interferon-γ autoantibody-associated immunodeficiency. Curr Opin Immunol. 2021 Oct. PMID: 34175547. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2021.05.007. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34175547/
4. 4 Salmonellosis. Elements of Reproduction and Reproductive Diseases of Goats. 2024. doi: 10.1002/9781394190089.ch51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394190089.ch51
5. 5 Salmonellosis. SpringerReference. None. doi: 10.1007/springerreference_42434. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/springerreference_42434
6. 6 Salmonellosis. Bovine Medicine. None. doi: 10.1002/9780470752401.ch15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470752401.ch15

ICD-10

ICD-11

Total cases

744K

Peak month

2010-10

Coverage

4 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-06-20