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Salmonella

Information for people who have been diagnosed as having Salmonella

What is causing my illness?

Your illness which is a form of food poisoning has been caused by bacteria or germs called Salmonella. The reason we know this is because the bacteria have been found by tests on the faecal specimen that you submitted to your GP - after ingestion food poisoning bacteria gradually passes through the intestines and are eventually excreted in the faeces.

Why is the Environmental Health Department involved?

Any type of food poisoning is a notifiable disease. Your GP has a duty to report cases of notifiable disease to the Environmental Health Department of the local Council for investigation.

 

There are three reasons for investigation by the Environmental Health Department:

  1. To prevent further spread of the disease in the community.
  2. To take appropriate precautions should people working in the food trade be involved.
  3. To try and establish where a patient picked up the disease.

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Where did I pick up the bacteria?

Salmonella is commonly found in the faeces of food animals, especially cattle and poultry.

 

There are a number of possibilities of where and when you could have picked up the bacteria which include the consumption of undercooked poultry or other meals that could have become contaminated or drinking unpasteurised milk. People who are infected with the bacteria can also pass it on to other people if their personal hygiene is not up to scratch. For example, if they do not wash their hands after going to the toilet and then handle food which is eaten by someone else, then that person may also become infected.

 

Sometimes direct handling of infected animals can lead to infection of people.

 

By thinking back over the 48 hours in particular (further if possible) before your illness started and remembering what you ate, where you ate etc, it may be possible to isolate a source.

What are the symptoms of this illness?

Symptoms normally start 12 to 72 hours after infection with the bacteria and they include vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever.

 

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Can I pass it on to other people?

All forms of diarrhoea and vomiting should be regarded as infectious, but usually it is only passed on to other people if personal hygiene is poor.

Can I go to work, school, nursery etc?

All cases are potentially infectious and so you should not go to work, school, etc, while you still show any of the symptoms.

 

In addition, if you fall into one of the following categories of people, your activities will formally be restricted, for example exclusion from work:-

  1. Food Handlers - those whose work involves handling unwrapped foods to be consumed without further cooking.
  2. Health Care or Nursery Workers - or other staff who have direct contact with highly susceptible patients or persons eg the elderly, young children - in whom such an infection could be very serious.
  3. Children - less than 5 years attending nurseries etc.
  4. Older Children - and adults with poor standards of personal hygiene eg aged, infirm, mentally ill.

The reason you have to be excluded is that these activities or people are found in high risk environments where there is the risk of passing on the bacteria to other people.

 

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When can I go back to work/school?

If you do not fall into one of the above groups of people, you should stay off work. But if you do fall into one of the above groups, you must not return to work until:

  1. 48 hours after your last normal stool and;
  2. 48 hours after your last episode of vomiting.

In addition your employer must be satisfied that your personal hygiene is good. If you are a food handler your employer must be satisfied that you do not pose a hygiene risk to the food you are handling. You should speak to him/her about this before returning to work. Further information about returning to work can be obtained from the Environmental Health Department, Health and Regulatory Services, Fareham Borough Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Fareham, PO16 7AZ, Tel:01329 236100 or by e-mail at regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.

 

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How long will this take?

Unfortunately there is no strict time limit on how long it will take your body to get rid of all the Salmonella bacteria, it could be days, weeks, or even months. Some people will not show any symptoms, but will still be excreting the bacteria - this shows the importance of good personal hygiene at all times.

 

If you are one of the above groups of people, your Environmental Health Department can give you information about compensation for loss of earnings.

But how do I prevent spreading the bacteria to my family and friends?

The key to this is good personal hygiene.

  1. Wash your hands frequently throughout the day particularly:-
    • after using the toilet
    • before you prepare and serve food
    • after nursing or contact with an infected person
  2. Thorough hand washing with soap and hot water and drying is the most important factor in preventing spread of infection.
  3. Do not share towels.
  4. Ensure that the toilet is flushed after each use.
  5. The toilet seat, flush handle, wash hand basin and taps should be cleaned daily or more frequently depending on how often they are used. After use, the toilet seat should be wiped with a diluted disinfectant.
  6. Any soiled or dirty clothing or bed linen should be washed in a domestic washing machine on a hot wash cycle.

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Further information

Further information can be found on the following website

Should you require any further information or advice on this matter, please contact:

 

Fareham Borough Council
Environmental Health Department
Health & Regulatory Services
Civic Offices, Civic Way
Fareham
Hampshire
PO16 7AZ

 

Telephone: 01329 236100
E-mail: regulatory@fareham.gov.uk.

 

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