March 24, 2008

Food Poisoning May Be Fatal for People With HIV

A new study conducted by scientists from the University of California Davis School of Medicine reveals that people living with HIV are more at risk for lethal Salmonella infection than HIV-negative people, ScienceDaily reports (sciencedaily.com, 3/24).

The study, published online by Nature Medicine on March 23, showed that Salmonella usually causes just seven days of diarrhea in most people, limiting its range of infection to the intestine. However, the food-borne bacterium can spread to the bloodstream and other organs in those living with HIV, causing a fatal condition called non-typhoidal Salmonella serotypes (NTS) bacteremia.

According to scientists, the discovery of the defect in the immune response that allows Salmonella to cross the mucosal barrier of the gut, enter the bloodstream and infect other organs may lead to further research examining how reservoirs of HIV are maintained in the gut, and how the virus is able to evade antiretroviral treatments.

“We think the real battle between an individual’s immune system and HIV is happening in the gut mucosa where there is massive destruction of immune cells,” said Satya Dandekar, professor and chair of the department of medical microbiology and immunology at UC Davis. “Gut-associated lymphoid tissue,” she pointed out, “accounts for 70 percent of the body’s immune system.”

For more information, including tips on how to avoid food poisoning, read our special report: Steer Clear of Salmonella

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Mark, Aztec, 2008-03-31 10:38:20
I think the reactions to this story demonstrate that more education is needed, whether it comes from an ASO, POZ or some other source. This is hardly new info. I have a video (yes, a video) discussing this very topic made in the early 1990s. Salmonella isn't the only concern, there are others. Common sense, good hygiene and washing or peeling before eating are essential. No, you needn't live in a bubble, but neither should you act as though you have a normal immune system.

william, orlando, 2008-03-27 23:53:10
Education is what we need to do for ourselves.Salmonella on fruits and vegetable is mostly carried on the skins of theses things. You need to wash or use a fruit brush to clean them when you slice thru a fruit with a skin and do not wwsh it first you put your self at risk of the salmonella when the knife slices into it. so be proactive and beware of proper food handling. easy to find this info thru and state health and food inspection sites.

Mark, Alamogordo,NM, 2008-03-27 19:51:47
I also agree with Gil. There are to many times when the food pantry's hand out outdated or rather old food. There have been many times when I have recieved food from such places that was more than spoiled but moldy and rotten. We all have to be wary with our diets and look out for possible danger areas in both resturants and fast food joints. There have been to many people getting sick this way. And as always take proper care in the way you handle your food at home, both in cooking and storing.

Glenn, NYC, 2008-03-27 11:01:15
I agree with Dennie. Give us some useful tips on HOW TO IMPROVE our intestinal mucosa. I too travel with my job..to S. Amercia I have had two bouts with food posoning in the past 7 months. Both times I got through it just fine. I ended up at the emergency room for 4 hours to get rehydrated. This info is scary AND we as a community need SOLUTIONS and SUGGESTIONS and NOT scare tactics! I am not going to live in a bubble and I enjoy food TOO MUCH to be paranoid. I could be hit by a bus mañana

Richard Foster, Lansing, Mi, 2008-03-26 10:43:06
I do not worry too much about this because we all have to realize that we cannot live in a bubble and survive. I am not a risk taker but I do use caution when eating food that has been donated and has expired. for example, recently I was given some bologna that had expired one week before I received it. The meat was maintained in a frozen state and I keep it that way until I open the package. I then consume it as quickly as possible. I also eat at the street vendors in Mexico too.

Dawn, Simi , CA, 2008-03-26 04:30:59
I agree with the comments from gil telles, el paso tx, A majority of donated food I have received has been expired or spoiled. I am frightened to eat most of the food as I get sick so easy with food that is bad or just starting to turn. Cant they ask contributors to donate fresher food to ensure the needy and ill arent mad worse through their food. Not ungrateful just frightened.

Sandy, Cape Town, South Africa, 2008-03-26 02:39:58
They do not mention the CD4 levels of the people in the study. Is it only those with low CD4 affected?

Casey, , 2008-03-26 01:36:33
I had salmonella several years ago. Not a pleasant experience for anyone. I came through it okay. When I read reports like this, I can't let it stop me from going on...I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!

Ron McCoy, Portland, Oregon, 2008-03-25 21:21:17
Uhhhh.POZ...you can do better than this sloppy story. The reference in the second paragraph to "the food-borne virus" is an absurd mistake, especially for a publication such as POZ. Salmonella is a bacterium, not a virus. I read the Science Daily report, and it is much clearer. The point is that HIV virus can destroy significant amounts of immune system cells in the gut, allowing Salmonella bacterium to escape into other organs, greatly increasing dangers of serious illness and death.

johndoe, san jose, 2008-03-25 17:07:52
that true.. i notice alot of food posining at the health trust.. in santa clara county.. because they due not keep current food iteam.. and love too give out2 year old food.. and never correct their problem.. since convics runs the food baskit thier.. and not the pay employees.. and not hear good pos advice too correct the problem or have health dept people check up on thier storging of the food.. i wish they clean up thier act..and get monthly health dept check ups. than you very much

Tim Horn, AIDSmeds.com, New York, NY, 2008-03-25 16:57:18
AIDSmeds.com has published comprehensive information about salmonellosis -- including ways to prevent it -- and other bacterial infections that can cause serious diarrhea. Cut and paste the following URL into your browser. www.aidsmeds.com/articles/BacterialDiarrhea_6697.shtml

Nikki, philadelphia, 2008-03-25 16:14:12
Whether you have a disease or not, wash all fruits and veggies before eating. Even fruit that you peel. I never eat fruit out, eat at salad bars, or sample tables unless the sampler is wearing gloves and handing out the samples. I have witness people double dippin, food dripping from their mouth into the sample dish etc. I was diagnosis 2005 and so far had no problems

Emma, Indianapolis, 2008-03-25 16:02:12
Been positive for 23 years -I had an ecoli infection a few years ago. Ended up in the hospital with, encephalitis, kidney failure and white blood cells wiped out by antibiotics. They finally sent me home because being in the hospital was 'too-dangerous'. It took six months to recover. Am fine now but man was it scary. Please, be careful

MARY SOILEX, PAMONA, CA, 2008-03-25 15:56:20
THIS IS A HORRIBLE THING...ONE MUST BE STAUNCH N STALWART IN PROMOTING WHOLESOME HEALTH IN THE KITCHEN, I MAINTAIN.

Jessica, Oregon, 2008-03-25 15:31:18
So a person like me that travels for my job could be screwed! I had food poising on a trip one time and I was out for 3 days. I agree with the earlier posting, why not give some suppport on top of the warning. Such as things we can do to increase our chances of not getting sick. I don't eat chicken but Salmonella can be found on fruits, vegtables, and who knows the practice of some restuarants that we all eat at! Not to mention food we buy from grocery stores. Scary!