(time during which an infected person can infect others) (time between becoming infected and developing symptoms)Ħ to 72 hours, usually 12 to 36 hours. Diagnosis ofĭiagnosis is made by growing Salmonella bacteria from a faecal specimen or by detecting Salmonella in a faecal sample using a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test in a pathology laboratory. The illness may be particularly severe in young children, the elderly and people with immune suppression.Ī small percentage of people may develop arthritis after having a Salmonella infection. Sometimes there may be blood or mucus in the faeces. Signs and symptoms of Salmonella infection Person-to-person spread may occur when hands, objects or food become contaminated with faeces from people who are infected and the bacteria are then taken in by mouth by another person.

People may become infected if they transfer animal faeces containing Salmonella bacteria from their hands to their mouths, for example, if eating after touching animals and failing to wash their hands. Fruit and vegetables may also be contaminated, especially if manure has been used as fertiliser. Eggs, milk, meat or poultry are particularly high risk foods. Salmonella infection usually results from ingestion of the bacteria from contaminated food, water or hands. Salmonella infection is a notifiable condition 1 How Salmonella is spread Typhoid and paratyphoid infections can be serious and are not common in Australia. Two specific types of Salmonella can cause typhoid and paratyphoid fever, which causes a different illness to that described below. There are thousands of different types of Salmonella bacteria and they occur in many domestic and wild animals, including birds, sometimes causing illness in them. Salmonella infection is one of many possible causes of gastroenteritis (also known as ‘gastro’). Salmonella infection - including symptoms, treatment and prevention On this page

Salmonella outbreak