CIDR

Phone: 206-687-8764
Fax: 208-787-9876
Email: lovemygerms@CIDR.com

Courtney Collingridge, PhD, MPH
Center of Infectious Disease Research
1242 North Ave. SE
Tucson, AZ 68749

Everyone here at the Center of Infectious Disease Research is committed to providing you with the latest, most up-to-date information that will not only serve to inform you, but also enrich your life as well. We appreciate your support and will continue our endeavor to create an environment of friendly service, compassionate care, and integrity. Thank you for letting us serve you.

Saving Each Other Through Education

Center of Infectious Disease Research

“Rest Assured We’re On a Cure”

Center of Infectious Disease Research

SALMONELLA
Is your Family Safe?

Tel: 206-687-8764

Behind Enemy Lines
The organisms themselves are short, motile, gram-negative rods. There are nearly 2000 different strains already, with more mutating when introduced to varying environments. Salmonella can grow in temperatures ranging from 8 to 45 degrees Celcius and in the 4 to 9 pH range. Generally speaking, these organisms are sensitive to heat and will be killed when temperatures are above 70 degrees Celcius. An interesting fact—Salmonella are resistant to drying and may exist in the dust for several years!
A Look into the Disease
Comparatively, Salmonella poisoning has a low mortality rate but continues to grow steadily. In humans, the incubation period is somewhere between 12 to 24 hours in which the victim experiences nausea, abdominal pain, drowsiness, diahorroea, and moderate fever.

The stools are watery, greenish in color, tinged in blood, and accompanied with a foul odor. The organism can invade the bloodstream, poisoning it and possibly leading to a coma. During the acute stage of the disease, the bacteria is excreted in large numbers and the patient recovers. Obviously, disposal of these wastes is crucial to protecting water supplies and other people from further contamination.
During the acute stage of the disease, the bacteria is excreted in large numbers and the patient recovers.
Pass the Chicken Please
Although most people classify Salmonella as coming from chickens, this is not entirely correct. The sources of this contamination can be traced back to nearly every animal and even in chocolate!
Since the intestinal tract of farm animals are the primary habitat for Salmonella, it is to be expected that the carcass meat which we eat to be contaminated. Chicken is the most common culprit while cattle and pigs follow in close behind.
Research has shown that there are several ways that our meats could become contaminated. While most animals become infected by coming in contact with the feces of a diseased animal on the farm, other meet the bacteria on the slaughter table. Processing foods offers an opportunity for food to become infected—the environment, a worker carrying the organism, or even a worker infecting the meat. Some foods will not be cooked, such as powdered milk, thus the bacterial will not be killed.
Let’s Control the Issue
With the countless ways of spread, controlling it becomes an arduous task. Salmonella grows well in warm temperatures such as your kitchen, and with a short generation time, it could multiply several times within an hour. Foods high in fat offer a buffer against heat when warmed which allows time to grow. Only through combined efforts of improved hygiene, immunizations, and use of antibacterials, we are able to minimize the spread of this bacteria.
Protect your Family
There are things you can do to help your family! You can prevent this from happening to you.
Do not use wooden cutting boards
Eggs may be contaminated externally and even internally. Cracked eggs greatly increases the likelihood of infection.
Do not leave food out for an exceeded amount of time.
Cook meat thoroughly for at least 20 minutes.

Over the past few years, the occurrence of the food-borne bacteria, Salmonella, has swept over the country. Reeking havoc on 3 million per year in the US, this disease has become the leading cause of human infection. Protect your loved ones and learn what you can do.

Courtney Collingridge, PhD, MPH
Center of Infectious Disease Research
1242 North Ave. SE
Tucson, AZ 68749

Phone: 206-687-8764
Fax: 208-787-9876
Email: lovemygerms@CIDR.com

Center of Infectious Disease Research

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