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MICROBILOGY

SALMONELLA

This is a Gram negative bacillus that can be found in the gut of humans and almost all animals throughout the world.

Disease

Gastroenteritis is
  • caused by many serotypes of Salmonella enterica
  • relatively common in the community
  • no seasonal incidence
  • asymptomatic individuals may be long term carriers
Typhoid is
  • typhoid caused by Salmonella typhi (not usually transmitted by endoscopy)

Mode of transmission

Salmonella spp. that cause gastroenteritis are transmitted by the faecal-oral route most commonly via food such as eggs, meats and dairy products. The most likely reservoirs of endoscopy related health care associated infections with this organism are other patients.

Significance in endoscopy

Historically, salmonella and related species have been the most common causes of infections transmitted by endoscopy. Many of the older literature reports of such infections occurred with cleaning and disinfection regimens that would not be considered acceptable by today's standards. Some reports of salmonella outbreaks have been associated with inadequate cleaning of accessories, particularly the failure to adequately ultrasonically clean spiral wound wire accessories. Increasing chemical immersion time was ineffective in at least one of these outbreaks and the problem was only terminated when proper cleaning procedures were employed.