Salmonella Spp., Lab Report Example

A synonym or cross reference for Salmonella spp. is Salmonellosis.  According to Health Canada (2001), it can be found all over the world, but mostly in North America and Europe.  Young children and infants are most vulnerable. In the United States two to three million infections occur each year.  .Salmonellosis is “an acute gastroenteritis; acute infectious disease with sudden onset of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting…includes focal infections abcesses, endocarditis, pneumonia…  Infectious doses are 100 – 1,000 organisms – ingestion” (ibid.).

The reasons that there are only small occurrences of Salmonellosis in the general population but large outbreaks in institutions, hospitals, restaurants, and nursing homes is that the latter contains large groups of people in close quarters, thereby making the transmission from person to person much easier than in the population at large.  Also, there are more people in the kitchens of various institutions and restaurants than there are at home; and not all of them may not be as careful as they should be in the preparation, cooking, serving, and storing of food.

Good personal hygiene and washing one’s hands often, especially after going to the bathroom, is essential to avoid the spread of Salmonellosis.  Transmission can also occur from infected animals and animal food, as well as from contacts with reptiles, birds, and turtles. Laboratory infections from specimens have also been reported.

Works Cited

Health Canada (2001).  MSDSonline.  Infectious disease index.  Salmonella spp. Retrieved on November 26, 2013, from http://www.msdsonline.com/resources/msds-resource.