Michael L. answered • 04/10/19
Current 4th Year Medical Student -- Incoming Dermatology Resident
Salmonella is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms in humans. It is typically spread through undercooked poultry and can cause an invasive-type of diarrhea i.e. blood and mucus in the stool, fever, chills, elevated white blood cell count, etc.
Salmonella can also cause Typhoid, but this comes up less commonly on tests and in real life. Look up Typhoid Mary if you want an interesting correlate.
Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment, with coverage of gram-negative organisms being a requisite for selection. Hospitalization may be necessary for severe cases, in particular to replete fluids and electrolytes lost through excessive diarrhea.
