Patient information and directions. Communicable Disease Prevention leaflet issued by the Swedish Society for Communicable Disease Prevention and Control.
You have been infected (or are suspected of being infected) with the intestinal bacterium Salmonella. Infection usually takes place through contaminated food or drink. Animals can also have the bacterium. Salmonella usually causes diarrhoea, but the disease can vary in its symptoms from none at all to a high temperature and “blood poisoning”. As a rule, the symptoms clear up after a week or so, but the infectious agent can remain in the intestine for longer.
Treatment with antibiotics does not help in most cases. If the disease becomes serious, however, with fever and a risk of complications, antibiotics are clearly useful.
The bacteria are in the intestine
You are most contagious if you have diarrhoea, which means more bacteria and more problems in maintaining good hygiene. People who have no symptoms are less contagious. You can reduce the risk of passing on the infection by observing good toilet hygiene and washing your hands often. Generally, quite a large number of bacteria are necessary to make someone ill, but some people, such as small children and the elderly, are particularly vulnerable.
The infection is transferred most easily if the bacteria are allowed to multiply. Food that is inappropriately handled and stored can become dangerous. Bacteria die when they are heated. This means that food which is thoroughly cooked (fried, grilled etc.) does not transmit salmonella. Bacterial growth is prevented by keeping hot food hot and cold food cold.
By following simple hygiene advice such as that in the disease prevention leaflet “Hygiene advice on intestinal infection” (Hygienråd vid tarmsmitta), someone with no symptoms can often go to work, school or childcare. Some situations or jobs, however, require transfer or suspension until you have been assessed as being free of infection. In such cases, you are obliged to provide samples for testing.
Do the following to prevent infection in others:
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Wash your hands often and carefully, particularly when handling food.
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Use your own soap, preferably liquid soap, and your own towel or paper towels. It is an advantage if you have the use of your own toilet, but this is not a requirement.
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If children with nappies are infected, wash your hands thoroughly after every nappy change. Keep the changing table very clean. Used nappies are to be packed into plastic bags and disposed of as household rubbish.
Mandatory directions:
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In the following risk professions, you will be transferred or suspended until you are declared free of infection.
- people who prepare or handle unpackaged foods in a professional capacity
- people who care for infants or patients with severely reduced immune defences in a professional capacity
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You are obliged to provide the test samples that your doctor prescribes.
The disease with which you are infected is a hazard to public health under the Swedish Communicable Diseases Act (Smittskyddslagen). You are therefore obliged to follow the directions given by your doctor. If you request, the County Medical Officer must reconsider the directions. Until this reconsideration takes place, you must follow the rules you have been given. The address of the County Medical Officer (smittskyddsläkaren) in your county council (landsting) is: