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Salmonella Typhimurium Symptoms

Salmonella typhimurium is a gram negative bacterium, a member of the Salmonella family of bacteria. Found widely in nature, it is cylindrical in shape and measures roughly 2 microns in length and half a micron in width, according to the Resource Center for Biodefense Proteomics Research. The bacterium, smaller in size than the cells found in most higher organisms, including humans, can cause gastroenteritis.

  1. Transmission to Humans

    • This type of Salmonella bacteria is most often transmitted to humans through contaminated food and water. In late 2008 and early 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported widespread outbreaks of Salmonella typhimurium infection related to the consumption of contaminated peanut butter products, most notably peanut butter crackers that are sold widely as a snack food.

    Signs and Symptoms

    • Symptoms generally show up 12 to 72 hours after the consumption of contaminated food or water, according to the CDC. The Resource Center for Biodefense Proteomics Research suggests a somewhat shorter time frame with the onset of symptoms likely between six and 48 hours after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. The most widely observed symptoms of Salmonella typhimurium infection are fever, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea.

    Diagnosis

    • Conclusive diagnosis of Salmonella typhimurium infection can be obtained only through a culture of a stool sample. Unless the resulting case of gastroenteritis is particularly severe or there is an ongoing outbreak of this form of infection, the doctor may not order a stool sample and may simply prescribe palliative measures to be used for the duration of the infection. According to the CDC, a bout of gastroenteritis caused by this species of Salmonella usually lasts from four to seven days.

    High-Risk Groups

    • In most healthy adults, an infection with Salmonella typhimurium will resolve on its own within a week of onset, and the symptoms usually can be managed with aspirin or acetaminophen for fever, antidiarrheals and other medications readily available over-the-counter. The danger for the very young, very old and those with compromised immune systems is much greater, however. Seek immediate medical help if the infection appears in very young children or the elderly. The Resource Center for Biodefense Proteomics Research reports that "the case-fatality ratio can be as high as 5 to 10 percent in nurseries and nursing homes."

    Complications

    • Severe infections, such as those that might occur in people who are in the high-risk groups cited above, can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream, according to the CDC. Once in the blood, the infection can go systemic, showing up in one or more of the body's systems. In such extreme cases, prompt treatment with antibiotics is essential to prevent death.

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