Is amoxicillin effective for treating Salmonella infection from eating undercooked chicken?

Most people with Salmonella from undercooked chicken do not need antibiotics, and amoxicillin is generally not effective for routine cases of non‑typhoidal Salmonella gastroenteritis. ^[1] In otherwise healthy people, antibiotics have not been shown to shorten diarrhea, fever, or overall illness duration, and they can increase the chance of prolonged bacterial shedding and relapse. ^[2] In randomized trials, amoxicillin (and ampicillin) did not improve symptoms and was associated with significantly higher bacteriologic relapse compared with placebo. ^[3]

When antibiotics are used

Antibiotics are usually reserved for severe disease or for people at higher risk of complications (for example, very young infants, adults over 50, people with weakened immune systems, or those with signs of invasive infection like bloodstream involvement). ^[4] In typical stomach and intestinal illness due to Salmonella (non‑typhoidal), most otherwise healthy people recover with fluids and rest without any antibiotic therapy. ^[1]

Is amoxicillin a good choice?

• For uncomplicated non‑typhoidal Salmonella diarrhea, amoxicillin is not recommended because it hasn’t shown clinical benefit and may prolong carriage or cause relapse. ^{[2] [3]}
• Salmonella resistance to older beta‑lactams (like ampicillin/amoxicillin) is common in many regions, further limiting usefulness. ^[5]
• If invasive disease is suspected or confirmed and antibiotics are indicated, recommended agents are typically a fluoroquinolone (e.g., ciprofloxacin) if the strain is susceptible, or a third‑generation cephalosporin (e.g., ceftriaxone) while awaiting susceptibilities. ^{[6] [7]}

What to do if you think you have Salmonella

• Most people can focus on oral rehydration and gradual diet advancement as symptoms allow; symptoms usually improve without antibiotics. ^[1]
• If you develop high fever, bloody diarrhea, severe dehydration, confusion, signs of sepsis, or if you are in a higher‑risk group, medical evaluation is important to decide whether antibiotics are needed and to select an appropriate drug based on local resistance patterns and, when possible, stool culture results. ^{[1] [4]}

Key evidence summary

Clinical question	What the evidence shows	Practical takeaway
Do antibiotics help otherwise healthy people with non‑typhoidal Salmonella diarrhea?	No improvement in duration of diarrhea, fever, or overall illness; increased adverse effects and higher odds of prolonged carriage. [2]	Avoid routine antibiotics; supportive care is usually enough. [1]
Does amoxicillin help?	RCTs in Salmonella gastroenteritis showed no benefit; amoxicillin/ampicillin groups had ~53% bacteriologic relapse vs none with placebo. [3]	Amoxicillin is generally not effective for uncomplicated cases and may worsen bacterial carriage.
When are antibiotics appropriate?	Severe disease, suspected bacteremia, or high‑risk hosts (infants, older adults, immunocompromised). [4]	Seek care to consider targeted antibiotics only in these settings.
Which agents are preferred when needed?	Fluoroquinolone (e.g., ciprofloxacin) if susceptible; ceftriaxone empirically for invasive disease pending susceptibilities. [6] [7]	Choice should be guided by susceptibilities and clinician judgment.

Bottom line

• For Salmonella from undercooked chicken (non‑typhoidal), amoxicillin is generally not an effective or recommended treatment in routine cases. ^{[2] [3]}
• Antibiotics are often unnecessary and can sometimes prolong shedding; use is reserved for severe or high‑risk cases, with other agents preferred when indicated. ^{[1] [4] [6] [7]}

Would you like to share any symptoms you’re having and how long they’ve been going on so I can help you judge whether medical evaluation for antibiotics is warranted?