L19: Food Poisoning Flashcards
(49 cards)
What is food poisoning? (definition)
illness (gastroenteritis) caused by contaminated food
What are the symptoms of food poisoning?
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- nausea
- crampy abdominal pain
- ± fever
What investigations/tests can be done if food poisoning is suspected?
- PCR of Faeces
- Blood Culture
- Test Food
Generally, what is the treatment for food poisoning?
- supportive treatment
- antibiotics typically not indicated
Explain the toxin involved and the characteristics of food poisoning caused by S. aureus
- heat stable enterotoxin ingested
- works fast [within 1 to 8 hours]
- lasts 8-24 hours
- vomiting predominates
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning by S. aureus?
- works fast [within 1 to 8 hours]
- lasts 8-24 hours
- vomiting predominates, occasionally diarrhea
What is Type 1 of Bacillus cereus food poisoning?
Type 1 = Emetic Syndrome
What is Type 2 of Bacillus cereus food poisoning?
Type 2 = Diarrheal Syndrome
How does Bacillus cereus cause type 1 emetic syndrome? (toxin/spore involved?)
- spores germinate in food and release toxin
- ingestion of performed toxin
- e.g. fried rice
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning by B. cereus type 1?
- works fast [within 1 to 6 hours]
- lasts 2-10 hours
- predominantly vomiting + abdominal cramps
- may have diarrhea
How does Bacillus cereus cause type 2 diarrheal syndrome? (toxin/spore involved?)
- spores ingested in food (not toxin)
- toxin production (in vivo) after spores germinate
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning by B.cereus type 2?
- incubation period between 6 to 14 hours
- lasts between 8 to 24 hours
- predominantly diarrhea
How does Clostridium perfringens cause food poisoning? (spores/toxin involved?)
- ingestion of heat-resistant spores
- toxin production in-vivo
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning by C. perfringens?
- incubation period between 8-24 hours
- lasts 1-3 days
- profuse diarrhea, occasionally vomiting
How does Clostridium botulinum cause food poisoning? (spores/toxin involved?)
- ingestion of neurotoxin
- improperly canned/home bottled products
- toxin binds irreversibly to pre-synaptic nerve endings and inhibits ACh release
- get paralysis
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning by C. botulinum?
- incubation between 12 and 36 hours
- acute descending symmetrical weakness
- paralysis
- high mortality
What is the treatment of food poisoning by C. botulinum?
treat w/ antitoxin
What organism is the most common cause of food poisoning in developed countries?
Campylobacter spp.
What are the 4 types of campylobacter spp. that may cause food poisoning? Which is the most common?
- C. jejuni = most common
- C. coli
- C. fetus
- C. lari
What is the main source of campylobacter spp. which causes food poisoning?
- undercooked meat and meat products*
- – inadequate decontamination
- raw or contaminated milk
*cases peak in summer months/barbecue season
What is the clinical presentation of food poisoning cause by campylobacter spp.?
- incubation period of 2-4 days (can be up to 8-9 days)
- prodromal illness (fever, headache)
- diarrhea (may be bloody)
- abdominal pain
- resolves w/in 5 to 7 days
List the complications after food poisoning by campylobacter spp
- toxic megacolon
- bacteraemia
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
What investigations can be done to diagnose food poisoning caused by campylobacter spp.
- PCR (of faeces)
- Culture (of faeces or blood)
List all the laboratory features of the campylobacter species
- gram negative (curved) bacilli
- positive oxidase test
- hydrolyses hippurate (makes a blue colour)
- greyish colonies on selective charcoal-containing media incubated in CO2 at 42 degrees