What is salmonella?

Every week we read that food has to be removed from the shelves due to salmonella contamination. But what exactly is salmonella and why is it so dangerous?

Salmonella is a bacterium that is commonly found in the intestines of poultry and pigs. The infection can spread through the feces in raw meat, eggs, vegetables and fruit.

A mild infection can cause stomach and intestinal complaints that will disappear after a few days. But salmonella can also penetrate the bloodstream, which can damage organs, bones and joints. Salmonella can be fatal if the patient dehydrates and kidney function stops, but the patient can also die in case of blood poisoning and shock. The most vulnerable people are children up to 5 years old, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly.

The contamination can be prevented by cooking meat sufficiently and washing vegetables and fruit carefully. It is important to wash hands thoroughly when handling raw meat.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/index.html

Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/salmonella-(non-typhoidal)

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-11 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025