Reporting & Investigation of Salmonellosis

Table of Contents

A. Purpose of Surveillance and Reporting

To identify whether the case may be a source of infection for others (e.g., a diapered child, child care attendee or food handler) and, if so, to prevent further transmission.
To identify transmission sources of public health concern (e.g. a restaurant or a commercially distributed food product) and to stop transmission from such sources.

B. Laboratory and Healthcare Provider Reporting Requirements

Iowa Administrative Code 641-1.3(139) stipulates that the laboratory and the healthcare provider must report. The preferred method of reporting is by utilizing the Iowa Disease Surveillance System (IDSS).  However, if IDSS is not available to your facility, the reporting number for IDPH Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology (CADE) is (800) 362-2736; fax number (515) 281-5698, mailing address:

Iowa Department of Public Health, CADE
Lucas State Office Building, 5th Floor
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075

Postage-paid disease reporting forms are available free of charge from the IDPH clearinghouse.  Call (319) 398-5133 or visit the website healthclrhouse.drugfreeinfo.org/cart.php?target=category&category_id=295 to request a supply.

C. Local Public Health Agency (LPHA) Follow-up Responsibilities

Case Investigation

It is the LPHA responsibility to complete a Salmonella case investigation by interviewing the case and others who may be able to provide pertinent information.  Much of the information can be obtained from the case’s healthcare provider or the medical record. Please use the Iowa Disease Surveillance System (IDSS) when possible for data collection.

Use the following guidelines in completing the form:

  • Record the demographic information, date of symptom onset, symptoms, and medical information.
  • When asking about exposure history (food, travel, activities, etc.), use the incubation-period range for salmonellosis (6 – 72 hours). Specifically, focus on the period beginning a minimum of 6 hours prior to the case’s onset back to no more than 72 hours before onset.
  • If possible, record any restaurants at which the case ate, including food items(s) and date consumed.
  • Ask questions about travel history and outdoor activities to help identify where the case became infected.
  • Ask questions about water supply because salmonellosis may be acquired through water consumption.
  • Household/close contact, pet or other animal contact, child care, and food handler questions are designed to examine the case’s risk of having acquired the illness from, or potential for transmitting it to, these contacts. Ask specifically about exposure to reptiles. Determine whether the case attends or works at a child care or healthcare facility and/or is a food handler.
  • Ask if the patient knows others who have similar illness about the same time.
    • If several attempts have been made to obtain case information, but have been unsuccessful (e.g., the case or healthcare provider does not return your calls or respond to a letter, or the case refuses to divulge information or is too ill to be interviewed), please enter as much information as can be gathered into IDSS. Please note in IDSS any reason why information could not be gathered  completely. If using IDSS, select the appropriate reason under the Event tab in the Event Exception field.

After completing the IDSS case investigation , transmit to IDPH by entering the completion date in the investigation complete field under the event tab.  If necessary, information can be mailed to CADE:

Iowa Department of Public Health
Attn: CADE
Lucas State Office Building
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309-0075

Or FAX to (515) 281-5698