SALMONELLOSIS (cont.) 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
SALMONELLOSIS 
 
 
Salmonella is an illness caused by the bacterium 
Salmonella of which there are numerous types.  
Salmonellosis most commonly causes intestinal 
illness but occasionally may infect the blood 
stream.  The bacterium is passed in the stool of 
infected individuals. 
 
Who gets this disease? 
Any person can become infected with Salmonella.  
The disease is more likely to cause a severe 
infection in the very young, the very old and in 
people with underlying diseases, such as cancer. 
 
How is it spread? 
In the childcare setting, Salmonella is usually 
spread by the fecal-oral route.  The bacterium can 
also be spread by contaminated food or drink.  It 
is commonly found in uncooked or undercooked 
meat (especially beef), poultry and eggs , and 
unpasteurized mi lk.  Salmonella can also be 
spread to children and adults from infected pets 
such as turtles, lizards, snakes, dogs, cats, 
ducklings, chickens and other birds.  (NOTE: 
Because of this hazard, these types of animals 
should not be in childcare facilities.) 
 
What are the symptoms? 
The intestinal illness caused by Salmonella is 
characterized by diarrhea (mild or severe), fever, 
abdominal cramps and occasional vomiting. 
 
How soon do symptoms appear? 
The symptoms generally appear from 6 -72 hours 
after exposure, usually appearing 12 -36 hours. 
Sometimes symptoms take up to 7 days to appear. 
Can a person have this disease and not 
know it? 
Yes.  Some people may not have symptoms 
serious enough to cause them to seek medical 
attention.  In some cases of Salmonella infe ction, 
after the diarrhea illness is over the organism may 
be excreted in the stool for months to over a year.  
This is called the carrier state. 
 
What is the treatment? 
Although most people with Salmonellosis will 
recover on their own, in some cases healt hcare 
providers may prescribe antibiotics.  Some 
antibiotics may lengthen the amount of time the 
bacteria are found in the stool, however. 
 
How can the spread of this disease be 
prevented? 
1. Wash hands thoroughly after using the 
toilet and diapering children. 
2. Wash hands thoroughly before preparing 
food. 
3. Be certain all foods in the childcare center 
are thoroughly cooked – especially beef, 
poultry and eggs. 
4. Any leftover food should be discarded. 
5. Food preparation surfaces (e.g., tables, 
counters, cutting boards,  kitchen utensils) 
should be carefully washed and 
disinfected after preparing food. 
6. Unpasteurized milk (goat or cow) is 
frequently contaminated with Salmonella 
and other bacteria; it should not be used in 
a childcare setting. 
7. Staff with active diarrhea or 
gastrointestinal (GI) illness should not 
work in a childcare facility until they are 
free of symptoms for 48 hours. 
8. Keep children with diarrhea at home. 
9. High-risk animals like turtles and lizards 
should not be in child care settings. 


SALMONELLOSIS (cont.) 
Division of Public Health Services  Disease Handbook for Childcare Providers 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control   REVISED –January 2018 
 
Who should be excluded? 
Infected persons shall be excluded from 
foodhandling, working in a child care facility and 
from direct care of hospitalized and 
institutionalized patients until they are no longer 
infectious or symptomatic (48 hours after 
resolution of symptoms). 
 
Reportable? 
Yes.  Salmonella is reportable by New Hampshire 
law to the Division of Public Health Services, 
Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at (603) 
271-4496.