From the Ü-egg to the chocolate bons – the confectionery manufacturer Ferrero has to recall products on a large scale just before Easter. The reason: salmonella. But are bacteria really that dangerous?
These are dark days for candy maker Ferrero. Just before Easter, the company has to deal with a real scandal and take masses of products off the market – in Germany and other countries. Bacteria are to blame. More precisely: salmonella. According to Ferrero, selected batches of “kids” products made in Belgium are affected by the recall (read more). It is “about a possible connection with a number of reported salmonella cases”. Although none of the “kids” products tested positive for salmonella, Ferrero takes the matter very seriously, “because consumer protection is our top priority.”
What is salmonella? Where are they performing? What makes them dangerous to humans? An overview.
What is salmonella?
Salmonella are rod-shaped bacteria that belong to the enterobacteria family. They are found worldwide and can cause disease in humans and animals. The bacteria are considered to be particularly resistant and adaptable.
Where is Salmonella mainly found?
Salmonella multiply in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Most often they are found in animals. The pathogens can usually do little to harm them. Salmonella infestation of farm animals can be problematic for humans. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), livestock, i.e. cattle, pigs, poultry, and the corresponding animal foods are “at the top of the possible causes of infection”. The best example: eggs. Salmonella (more precisely: S. Enteritidis) is transmitted most frequently in Germany, especially when the eggs or dishes in which eggs are processed, such as ice cream, have not been heated sufficiently. But the bacteria can also spread through raw meat or meat products that have not been properly heated, in this case S. Typhimuriumbe transmitted.
How do you get infected with Salmonella?
The Salmonella pathogens are ingested orally – primarily through food. It is important to know that even food that was not actually contaminated with Salmonella can become an infection risk if it comes into contact with contaminated surfaces and food or infected people. We are then talking about a so-called cross-contamination. Transmission of the pathogen from an animal that excretes salmonella to humans through direct contact is less common. Human-to-human transmission is also possible. A factor in these transmissions can be poor hygiene. Infections also occur in connection with medical measures. According to the RKI, transmission through food is also most likely in the case of salmonellosis outbreaks in hospitals, old people’s or nursing homes.
How long is the incubation period?
How long it takes for a disease to break out after infection depends on the infection dose and the type of serovar, i.e. the salmonella type. The incubation period is usually 12 to 36 hours, but illness can occur after just six hours or as late as 72 hours.
What are the symptoms?
Salmonellosis is food poisoning. Acute intestinal inflammation is typical. Patients then often suffer from symptoms such as fever, sudden diarrhea, headaches and abdominal pain for several days. Some also vomit.
How is salmonellosis treated?
The symptoms usually go away on their own after a few days. If only the gastrointestinal tract is affected, treatment with antibiotics is usually avoided. The reason for this is that it can prolong bacterial excretion. The sick people are contagious for a longer period of time. However, if inflammation occurs in other organs, it is treated with antibiotics.
How dangerous is salmonella for humans?
The RKI writes that the risk of severe courses of salmonellosis is higher among hospital patients and those in need of care than in the general population. According to the Federal Center for Health Education, infants and small children, but also older adults and people with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk. The symptoms caused by salmonellosis can lead to severe dehydration. Pregnant women also have to be careful, if they become infected there is a risk of premature birth.
In rare cases, writes the RKI, the initial intestinal inflammation can take a septic course, sometimes with high fever. Other complications, such as meningitis, pneumonia or abscesses, can occur, especially in people over 60 years of age. According to the RKI, deaths from salmonellosis are rare (0.1 percent), and older and weakened people are primarily affected. And: “However, the reporting data underestimates deaths because infections, once reported, are not tracked until the end of the disease”.
Which age groups are most commonly affected by salmonellosis?
According to the RKI, most salmonella cases in terms of the population are counted in children under the age of ten, and small children in particular are often affected.
How long are infected people contagious?
On average, adults excrete so-called enteritis salmonella for a month. Children under the age of five are contagious longer. They excrete the pathogens for seven weeks or longer. In the case of children with severe disease progression, the period can extend to more than half a year.
How common are such salmonella diseases?
In 2020, 109 outbreaks with 592 diseases were reported to the RKI. This makes salmonellosis the second most common notifiable bacterial gastrointestinal disease. The peak for infections is in late summer.
Which salmonella outbreaks in Germany are known?
The RKI lists a whole series of salmonella outbreaks. Accordingly, the pathogens were probably in herbal tea, smoked eel and chocolate. Melons and mung bean sprouts are also mentioned.
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Source: Stern
