Love Ramirez
IHP 330 Principles of Epidemiology
Southern New Hampshire University
October 17, 2021
Final Project: Epidemiological Research Study Report
Risk Factors
Several risk factors can increase the risk of contracting salmonella. One practice to avoid
is failing to wash your hands after using the restroom, caring for a sick person, before and after
preparing food, after handling raw meat or eggs, consuming undercooked or raw meat, egg.
unpasteurized milk products, and so forth. Hand washing is imperative at all points of contact
with germs to avoid the spread of bacteria. "A salmonella infection can be contracted from food.
pets, or exposure to human or animal feces. Children, the elderly, and people with the weakened
immune system are most at risk" (Iannelli, 2021). According to Verywell Health, children under
5, elder adults over 65, and those with compromised immune systems are likely to get the
salmonella infection. Individuals who are taking antacids are also at great risk and those who
have inflammatory bowel disease due to the damage in their intestinal lining. "You may also be
at a higher risk after taking antibiotics as the friendly gut bacteria have been killed, leaving the
habitat open for salmonella" (Iannelli, 2021).
Mode of Transmission
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "salmonella are
microscopic living creatures that pass from the feces of people or animals to other people or
other animals" (n.d, 2020). Animals such as rodents and reptiles can carry the salmonella and
spread the bacteria to people. Animals that are known to have spread salmonella include goats.
cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry. Also, water with fecal contamination or cross-contamination
during food preparation can transmit the bacteria in fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, or
processed foods. CDC suggests cooking the food to kill the bacteria.
Incidence and Prevalence
Incidence = 6.8
(86/1,265,000) x 100,000 = 6.79
Prevalence= 87 per 10,000(1,097/1,265,000) x 100,000 = 87
Mortality
(4/1,265,000) x 100,000 = .316
Odds Ration
The cause of salmonella illness is most likely due to undercooked foods. The odds ratio
for undercooked and raw food is 18.9, while 0.1 is the odds of contracting salmonella through
store-bought food. Consuming raw or undercooked food seems to cause salmonella more than
any other possible causes.
Population
In the early-mid 1980s, "Salmonella was recognized as a pathogen of public health
concern in the Caribbean. The bacterium, which causes acute gastroenteritis, had infected many
residents, causing a large number of illnesses and a substantial economic burden" (n.d. 2019).
But this issue received little attention because of resource constraints and the cause of salmonella
infection remained unknown during that time.
In the year 1990, the Salmonella virus outbreak raised concern in the Caribbean due to
the increased cases of diarrhea among the locals and tourists staying at luxury hotels in the
region. Between 1998 through 1999 a case study was conducted on the population of Tobago and
Trinidad to determine the cause of the virus affecting the people. They screened the occupants
for different types of Salmonella infections