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Salmonella Enteritidis Facts

Athletes hoping to increase the amount of protein they consume have been known to drink raw eggs. This supposed display of machismo is seen in Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" films; however, nutritionists caution against the consumption of raw eggs since they possibly contain the Salmonella enteritidis bacterium, a particular type of salmonella only found in eggs.

  1. General Information

    • Salmonella enteritidis is a bacterium found in eggs and can cause illness if the eggs are eaten raw or undercooked. It is impossible to tell by looking which eggs may be infected with the bacterium, so it is advised to thoroughly cook eggs before eating and to avoid cross-contamination when handling raw eggs.

    Side Effects, Treatment and Fatality

    • Salmonella enteritidis poisoning is marked by fever, stomach cramps and diarrhea, anywhere from 12 to 72 hours after consuming the infected food or beverage. Other food and beverages can be affected by Salmonella enteritidis by cross contamination, although it is only naturally found in eggs. The illness usually lasts up to a week and may not require antibiotics. The illness may travel from the intestines into the bloodstream of a person with an impaired immune system. In these case, if the illness is not treated in time with antibiotics, it may be fatal.

    Infected Eggs

    • Unlike other strands of salmonella, Salmonella enteritidis infects the ovaries of hens and contaminates the eggs before the shells are formed. Although a hen's ovaries may be infected, she can still produce uninfected eggs.

    Keeping Free of Infection

    • Everyone is at risk for Salmonella enteritidis although infants, elderly and persons with impaired immune systems are especially at risk. To avoid Salmonella enteritidis, it is important to keep eggs refrigerated, to avoid cracked or dirty eggs, to wash hands and utensils with soap and water after contact with raw eggs, to eat eggs within two hours of cooking, to refrigerate leftover foods containing eggs and to avoid eating raw or undercooked eggs.

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