EEIP RIDRM Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is a diarrheal illness caused by the bacteria Salmonella. There are many different kinds of Salmonella bacteria. The most commonly reported in the United States are Salmonella serotype Enteritidis and Salmonella serotype Typhimurium. Salmonella infections occur more often during the summer. Of the cases acquired in the United States, approximately 91% are foodborne, with 2% hospitalized, and less than 1% deaths.
Actions Required and Control Measures
Reporting Requirements - Category 2
Salmonellosis is physician reportable by mail within 12 hours of recognition or strong suspicion to both the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) and the local health department (LHD). The director of any clinical laboratory must also report laboratory evidence of Salmonella to both the DPH and the LHD. Additional laboratory requirements: Isolates of Salmonella must be submitted to the DPH State Public Health Laboratory for confirmation and should include the serogroup and type. To assure you have the most up-to-date information concerning reportable diseases, please visit the Reporting of Diseases, Emergency Illnesses, Health Conditions, and Laboratory Findings page.
Case Investigation
LHD Responsibility: For those LHDs that interview their Salmonella cases, use the “General Enteric Diseases Interview Form” specific to Salmonella and Campylobacter, to interview the case and identify individuals in high-risk occupations or settings (see below). Completed GEDIF forms should be entered directly into CTEDSS or faxed to the DPH at 860-509-7910.
Provide information and educational materials describing the nature of the disease and preventive measures. The importance of frequent and thorough hand washing should be stressed for all cases and contacts. Encourage a physician visit if symptoms persist.
DPH Responsibility: The DPH, through FoodCORE, will interview cases for LHDs that have opted to defer Salmonella interviews to FoodCORE. If a case in a high-risk occupation or setting is identified, DPH will notify the appropriate LHD so that the appropriate control measures may be implemented. DPH is available to the LHD for assistance, consultation, and guidance and to ensure that appropriate investigative and control actions are being taken.
Control Measures
Food Handler: Refer to DPH Food Protection Program at 860-509-7297.
Health Care Worker with Direct Patient Contact: Symptomatic individuals with laboratory-confirmed infection should be excluded from direct patient care until asymptomatic.
Day Care Setting: Exclude symptomatic children and employees with laboratory- confirmed infection until symptoms subside. Other children and employees with gastrointestinal symptoms should be identified and cultured. Improved sanitation and personal hygiene should be emphasized in day care settings. Proper hand hygiene by staff and children should be stressed, especially after using the toilet or handling soiled diapers.
Household Contacts: Close contacts with gastrointestinal symptoms should be excluded from food handling until diarrhea ceases and two consecutive negative stool cultures taken at least 24 hours apart are obtained. Asymptomatic household contacts involved in food handling should have at least one negative stool culture. Stress good hand washing technique. Asymptomatic household contacts should not be excluded from work pending culture results.
Close contacts with gastrointestinal symptoms should be excluded from day care and care of patients until diarrhea ceases. Exclusion of asymptomatic contacts is indicated for those with questionable hygienic habits.
This page last updated 9/16/2019.