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Chapter 1
1.5. Treatment of Salmonella infection
The most fundamental point about treatment of NTS is that most cases
need to maintain hydration and do not need or benefit from antimicrobial
treatment. Antimicrobial agents are required for those with invasive
disease and for other specific categories [10]. Antibiotics are commonly
prescribed for early treatment of Salmonella infections. However
increasing antimicrobial resistance associated with Salmonella strains has
hindered effective treatment in the past as reviewed by Sirinavin et al. [10].
1.6. Sources of Salmonella contamination
Salmonella is a bacterial zoonotic pathogen that is commonly found in the
gut and intestinal tract of animals including farmed, domestic and wild
animals. Therefore there are numerous routes that allow its entry into the
food chain. During the processing of raw meat, contaminated digestive
tract contents can colonize surfaces or other meats leading to cross
contamination of entire surfaces or products. Salmonella can also
contaminate fresh fruit and vegetables through contaminated faecal
content polluting freshwater and soil. This may arise through fertilization
with contaminated animal manure or poor sanitary conditions and waste
water treatment. Herman and colleagues reported that there was a 30%
increase in the number of Salmonella outbreaks associated with
contamination of leafy greens despite a decrease in consumption over a
ten year period [11].
Live poultry at all stages of the farming process can be carriers of
Salmonella. Salmonella can also colonize the ovaries of infected poultry
leading to colonized eggs produced via transovarial transmission [12].
Salmonella can also contaminate egg contents when contaminants remain
on the outside of soiled eggshells or seep through the surface through
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