Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107378

Timothy D. Ravita, Laboratory Sciences Division, Constella Health Sciences, 3 Corporate Blvd., Suite 220, Atlanta, GA 30329, 678-553-4540, travita@constellagroup.com

Salmonella has been a successful pathogen because of its co-evolution with its animal hosts. S. enterica has developed mechanisms to adapt to host defenses and can persist in multiple intracellular and extracellular environments. Salmonellosis is generally contracted through the consumption of contaminated food and water sources. Antibiotic resistance in S. enterica has become a global issue, and this resistance is most likely facilitated by the horizontal acquisition of Salmonella Genomic Island 1 (SGI1) genes through contact with phages in wastewater discharge areas. The economic impact of salmonella infections has raised the concern over preventing salmonellosis to the highest government levels in some countries. Household outbreaks have been studied and have been linked to S. enterica contamination of household foods, carpets, and rodenticides. Moreover, public recreational fixtures such as ornamental fountains can be contaminated with salmonella and pose another serious health risk because of aerosol inhalation of these enteric pathogens. Environmental sources and fomites should be considered when addressing salmonella as a serious risk to human health.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

• Become acquainted with the impact of salmonellosis.
• Recognize that salmonella is not only a food and water contaminant, but is an environmental contaminant also.
• Understand potential avenues of infection and think of preventive measures.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commertial supporters WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Constella Group, LLC.