Deepshikha Srivastava

Abstract

Salmonella infections caused by a group of bacteria, present significant public health risks globally, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Transmission commonly occurs through contaminated food consumption or direct contact with infected animals. Poor hygiene among food handlers facilitates bacterial spread, contaminating surfaces and utensils during food preparation. Street food vendors, lacking proper hygiene practices, play a pivotal role in Salmonella transmission due to inadequate knowledge and unregulated food handling. This study highlights the prevalence and impact of Salmonella infections, focusing on typhoidal and nontyphoidal serotypes. Nontyphoidal serotypes, being zoonotic, can transfer between animals and humans, and among humans themselves. While gastrointestinal illness is the typical symptom of Salmonella infection, severe cases may lead to bacteraemia and enteric fever. In sub-Saharan Africa, nontyphoidal Salmonella can cause invasive paratyphoid fever necessitating urgent antibiotic treatment. The street food industry, serving billions daily, is a major source of food borne diseases. Street food vendors, often lacking education in safe food handling, contribute to contamination through cross-contamination and poor hygiene practices. Limited access to clean water, inadequate sanitation, and improper waste disposal further increase Salmonella transmission risks in these environments. Keywords: Salmonella, Salmonellosis, Gastrointestinal illness, Food borne infection, Street food, Food safety, Food handlers.