Salmonella Treatments and Medications

Salmonella is a bacterial infection in the intestines and a common cause of food poisoning, usually from contaminated meat, eggs, or produce. It can cause a severe bout of diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and stomach cramps that can happen in just a few hours after infection. For most cases, the main risk is dehydration, and antidiarrheals and antibiotics are usually not recommended. However, it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you have a high fever, bloody diarrhea, or symptoms that last more than a few days, especially if you are older or immunocompromised.

How is salmonella diagnosed?

A salmonella infection, also called salmonellosis, is often suspected when someone has diarrhea and fever. However, a definitive diagnosis of salmonella comes from detecting the bacteria in a lab test. A diagnosis usually involves: 

• A review of medical history: A healthcare provider may ask about symptoms, recent meals (especially undercooked meat, eggs, or unpasteurized dairy), animal contact, and past travel.

• A stool test: Testing a stool sample for Salmonella is how most cases of non-typhoidal salmonella infection are officially diagnosed.

• Blood tests: A blood culture or other test may be recommended if the infection is believed to have spread further than the intestines, especially if typhoid fever is a risk.

Some people get better without being tested, so they may never know for sure whether they had salmonella. In rare cases, a person may still carry and spread the bacteria even after symptoms go away.

Salmonella treatment options

Many cases of non-typhoidal salmonella infections can resolve on their own without the need for medication. Treatment usually involves resting and staying hydrated. There’s little evidence that antibiotics shorten symptom duration. However, they may be recommended for people with severe infections or those at high risk of serious problems, including infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

Typhoid fever is caused by a type of Salmonella (Salmonella enterica) and requires antibiotic treatment. In severe cases, a hospital stay with IV fluids may be needed. A healthcare provider will base treatment on the type of infection causing symptoms, the severity of symptoms, and a person’s overall health.

Types of salmonella medication

Non-typhoidal salmonellosis typically resolves with fluids and no medication, but more severe invasive infections and typhoid fever usually require antibiotics or other treatments.

Antibiotics

Common antibiotics used to treat complicated infections or typhoid fever may include Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Zithromax (azithromycin), Rocephin (ceftriaxone), or Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim). Since there are many drug-resistant strains of the bacteria, lab tests are done to pinpoint which antibiotic will work the best. For cases of typhoid fever that are caught early, a course of antibiotics often lasts for 10 to 14 days. For severe typhoid fever, a healthcare provider may add the corticosteroid dexamethasone alongside antibiotics to reduce inflammation.

Vaccines

While there isn’t a vaccine for non-typhoidal salmonella, there are two typhoid vaccines. One is an oral vaccine (Vivotif), and the other is an injectable vaccine (Typhim Vi). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the typhoid vaccine for people traveling to places where the disease is common. 

Over-the-counter salmonella medicine

There are no over-the-counter medicines that can cure a salmonella infection. Other than oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte to replace fluids, over-the-counter products are rarely recommended. Antidiarrheal drugs like Imodium (loperamide) could worsen an infection that presents with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea or a high fever. That’s because a drug like loperamide can slow movement in the gut and trap the bacteria for longer.

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Best medicine for salmonella