In one aspect, the disclosure relates to compositions and methods for dispersing exiting Salmonella biofilms and inhibiting formation of Salmonella biofilms. In various aspects, the disclosed compositions can be used in methods of treating a persistent Salmonella infection, including an asymptomatic infection. Such infections can colonize a variety of tissues, including the gall-bladder. Also disclosed are methods of treating typhoid fever. Also disclosed are methods for mitigating or preventing secondary outbreaks of typhoid fever by treating asymptomatic subjects who had been symptomatic for typhoid fever at a previous time. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.