Salmonella Enterica Treatment

Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) is a bacteria with more than 2,000 subtypes that can cause salmonellosis, a gastrointestinal disease, often referred to as food poisoning. Approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infections with Salmonella may result in hospitalization and even death. Salmonellosis is often caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs or fruits, and vegetables washed in contaminated water. The incubation period usually ranges from a few hours to three days and typically lasts four to seven days. Signs and symptoms include diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

• Bacteria under a microscope

No Treatment

• The human body uses diarrhea and vomiting as a defense mechanism to rid itself of pathogenic organisms in the digestive tract. Salmonellosis may be self-limiting in a mild case, which means symptoms disappear after a few days without treatment. In fact, many doctors will avoid prescribing antibiotics and let the disease run its course. Dehydration from diarrhea may occur, so it is important to drink plenty of fluids and maintain electrolyte balance. Antibiotics may be prescribed in more severe cases.

Fluoroquinolones

• The fluoroquinolone class of broad-spectrum antibiotics is considered the best choice for salmonellosis treatment in adults. These drugs prevent the bacterial DNA from duplicating, which effectively kills the organisms during the course of treatment. These antibiotics are not recommended for children or women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Ciprofloxacin is the generic name for a particular fluoroquinolone often used in the United States. It is usually prescribed under the brand name Cipro or Proquin.

Cephalosporins

• Cephalosporins are a family of broad-spectrum antibiotics that are known under the generic name cefprozil and may be sold as the brand name Cefzil. Cefprozil is available both as an oral form and as an injectable form. These drugs are used in children and pregnant women; however, cefprozil may pass to a baby through breast milk, so is not recommended for nursing mothers. Cefprozil prevents the cell walls from forming, so the bacteria will die off, since they cannot survive without a cell wall.

Penicillin

• Every high school biology student has read about the accidental discovery of penicillin in the lab of Alexander Fleming. A mold spore contaminated the petri dish of pathogenic bacteria he was studying and prevented the bacteria from growing. The penicillins are a group of more than 50 chemically related antibiotics that may be sold under the generic name ampicillin and as the brand name Omnipen, Polycillin or Principen. Like the cephaolsporins, the penicillins prevent the bacteria from forming cell walls. One drawback to the use of penicillin is the allergic reaction that occurs in certain individuals and can be life-threatening.

Warning

• Take all medications exactly as prescribed and for the entire time prescribed by the doctor. Be sure to follow the prescription-label directions. Inform your doctor about all other prescriptions and over-the-counter medications you take such as vitamins, minerals and herbal products. The emergence of drug-resistant forms of bacteria usually requires a change to a different antibiotic treatment to fight the infection.