Estimate of SE infections, 2002

General population

Person becomes ill

Person seeks care

Specimen obtained

Culture-confirmed case

Reported to Health Dept/CDC

Lab tests for organism

5,116 cases reported

194,408 cases

For every case of

Salmonella infection

reported, 38* go

unreported due to lab insensitivity, lack of culture, or not seeking care.

*Plausible range = 23 to 65