14.05.2011

Salmonella species cause an estimated 1.2 million infections per year in the United States, making it one of the most commonly reported enteric pathogens. Among those with Salmonella infections in the United States, 11% had traveled to another country in the week before becoming ill, and Mexico is far and away the most common destination, according to a study in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease. Researchers reviewed salmonellosis cases reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's FoodNet sentinel surveillance database, from 2004 to 2008. Among 23,712 case-patients with known travel status, 11% (2,659) had traveled internationally in the 7 days before illness.  Travelers with Salmonella infection tended to be older (median age, 30 years) than nontravelers (median age, 24 years). The most common destinations reported were Mexico (38% of travel-related infections), India (9%), Jamaica (7%), the Dominican Republic (4%), China (3%), and the Bahamas (2%). The proportions of travelers with Salmonella infection hospitalized and with invasive disease were inversely related to the income level of the destination country. The most commonly reported serotypes, regardless of travel status, were Enteritidis (19% of cases), Typhimurium (14%), Newport (9%), and Javiana (5%). Among infections caused by these four serotypes, 22%, 6%, 5%, and 4%, respectively, were associated with travel. Travel to Africa was associated with the highest rate of hospitalized case-patients—33%—while travel to Asia was linked to the highest rate of invasive disease, also 33% (Johnson et al., 2011. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease).