Summary

• A very common cause of gastroenteritis in the developed world.
• Salmonella species cause both sporadic cases and outbreaks of disease.
• Almost any food product can be contaminated, but cases are most commonly due to poultry, dairy items such as raw milk, and undercooked eggs. More recently outbreaks associated with ingestion of peanut products and raw produce have been described. Reptile exposure also has been associated with the development of the disease.
• The clinical presentation is most commonly a self-limited gastroenteritis.
• Diagnosis relies on isolation of the organism from stool cultures.
• Treatment includes fluid and electrolyte replacement; antibiotics are typically reserved for patients with risk factors for developing more severe disease or extraintestinal complications.