Annual summary of Salmonella infections, 2019

This report presents provisional information on laboratory reports of Salmonella in Scotland up to the end of 2019. This is compared to previous years’ data to show trends over time. The surveillance of Salmonella in Scotland relies on reports from the Scottish Salmonella, Shigella and Clostridium difficile Reference Laboratory (SSSCDRL) who receive isolates from all diagnostic microbiology laboratories in Scotland. These are reported to HPS via Electronic Communication of Surveillance in Scotland (ECOSS).

Main points

• During 2019, there were 756 isolates of human non-typhoidal Salmonella reported to Health Protection Scotland.
• This was in line with the 751 cases reported in 2018, which was a decrease on the 840 cases reported in 2017.
• Most isolates were reported during the summer months. There is an additional peak later in October which co-incides with the mid-term school break. This trend is consisent with previous years.
• The two most commonly reported serotypes were Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium which accounted for 58% of all Salmonella isolates reported in 2019.
• The rates of infection of Salmonella vary across the population, with overall higher rates observed in children under 5 years of age compared with older children.