Risk factors for contracting Salmonella infections include:

• Touching contaminated reptiles, including pets such as iguanas, snakes, and turtles (90 percent of reptiles carry Salmonella), or pet rodents.
• Ingesting improperly cooked or stored food, especially poultry, meat or eggs.
• Touching your hand to your mouth if your hand has been in contact with a contaminated surface or object.
• Having close contact with other infected people or animal.
• Traveling to countries with poor sanitation.
• Using antacids or other acid-reducing drugs, which lower stomach acidity and allow Salmonella to get to your small intestine more easily.
• Having an impaired or suppressed immune system, such as having HIV/AIDS, taking immunosuppressive drugs, using corticosteroids, or having malaria or sickle cell disease.
• Having inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which damages the lining of intestine and makes it easier for Salmonella to infect it.