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Salmonella Enteritidis Infections

Salmonella enteritidis is a bacterium that is found within eggs. When you develop a salmonella infection, your intestinal track becomes affected. You can suffer from symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramping. If you're in good health, you can overcome a salmonella infection without complications. In extreme cases of a salmonella infection, you can develop diarrhea that becomes so severe you may need to be hospitalized due to dehydration.

  1. Egg Contamination

    • Salmonella enteritidis is a bacterium that commonly afflicts grade A eggs. Salmonella is a common type of bacterium that live in many animals and birds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacterium can enter into the ovaries of a healthy hen, and contaminate an egg before the shell is even created. As a result, a hen can produce what is known as a disinfected egg. Though the external part of the egg can be cleaned, the internal part of the egg still contains the bacterium.

    Ingestion

    • If you eat an egg that is partially raw or partially cooked, and the egg contains salmonella, you will become infected. Raw eggs are used for food products such as hollandaise sauce, and some types of mayonnaise and salad dressings. If you don't completely cook an egg, such as leaving the yolk partially raw (sunny side up eggs), this can also result in an infection from a contaminated egg.

    Infection

    • Once you have ingested salmonella, symptoms will begin between 12 to 72 hours after infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common illness created by a salmonella infection is gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis causes nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain. diarrhea, fever and chills, muscles aches, and sometimes you may find blood in your stool. An infection can last up to a week. If you develop a fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit, it is important you seek immediate medical attention.

    Risks for Infection

    • Anyone one can become infected with Salmonella enteritidis. However, the elderly, infants, and individuals with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to infections than healthier individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of the deaths that have occurred as a result of Salmonella enteritidis have been amongst the elderly who were living in nursing homes.

    Prevention/Solution

    • When you buy eggs, make sure you refrigerate them immediately. Never leave an egg out for more than two hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should keep your eggs refrigerated until you need them. Leaving an egg at room temperature can cause salmonella bacterium to multiply. The higher percentage of bacterium present in the egg, the higher your chances for developing an infection. Cooking an egg completely minimizes your risk of ingesting Salmonella enteritidis. When buying eggs at the store, make sure all the eggs are without cracks and are clean. If you eat any foods that contain egg products, always ensure that these products used pasteurized eggs only.

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