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Household contamination with Salmonella enterica
Daniel H Rice1, Dale D Hancock, Paivi M Roozen
1Field Disease Investigation Unit, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7060, USA. dhr@vetmed.wsu.edu
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|January 21, 2003
Summary
Occupational exposure to Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) significantly increases household contamination risk. Even cleaning methods could not fully eliminate this bacterium from carpets.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Household contamination with Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) is a concern, particularly for individuals with occupational exposure.
- Occupational settings like farms, research labs, and veterinary clinics can be sources of S. enterica transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between occupational exposure to S. enterica and household contamination.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of cleaning interventions in reducing S. enterica on contaminated surfaces.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study assessed S. enterica contamination in vacuum cleaner bags from households with and without occupational S. enterica exposure.
- Experiments were conducted to test the efficacy of carpet cleaners and disinfectants against artificially contaminated carpets.
Main Results:
- Households with occupational S. enterica exposure showed significantly higher rates of contamination (27.2%) compared to those without (4.2%).
- Cleaning interventions, including carpet cleaners and disinfectants, reduced but did not eradicate S. enterica from contaminated carpet surfaces.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposure to S. enterica is a significant risk factor for household contamination.
- Standard cleaning practices may not be sufficient to eliminate S. enterica from household environments, highlighting the need for enhanced disinfection protocols.