Food poisoning organisms

Salmonella infection (bacteria)

Sources:

●Raw poultry/eggs/milk/meat

●Intestines of ill People/sewage/water

●Animals/birds

●Rodents/insects

●Reptiles/terrapins

 

Symptoms:   (1-7 days)

●Abdominal pain

●Diarrhea

●Vomiting

●Dehydration

●Fever

Typhoid/paratyphoid (bacteria)

Symptoms:

●Rose spots on trunk

●Fever/nausea

●Severe diarrhea or constipation

●Enlarged spleen

 

Features:

●Known as Enteric fever

●Long term carriers (excreted in feces & urine)

●Waterborne or foodborne

Clostridium Perfringens (bacteria)

Sources:

●Human and animal feces

●Sewage

●Soil/dust

●Insects

●Raw meat/poultry

 

Symptoms (12-48 hr):

●Abdominal pain and diarrhea

 

Features:

●Anaerobic spore former.

Clostridium Botulinum (bacteria)

Sources:

●Intestines of fish/mammals

●Soil/vegetables

·      Honey

 

Symptoms:

●Difficulties in talking, breathing and swallowing, vertigo, double vision and paralysis of the cranial nerves/ diarrhea followed by constipation

 

Features:

●*Anaerobic*, spore former, neurotoxin in food (heat sensitive).

●Botulinum cook in canning (121°C for 3 mins) 

●Can multiply at 3°C (slowly).

Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria)

Sources:

●Humans –nose/mouth/skin/spots/boils

●Raw milk & products

 

Symptoms (6-24 hrs):

●Vomiting, abdominal pain, prostration, and occasional diarrhea

 

Features

●Heat-resistant exotoxin in food, salt tolerant.

Bacillus Cereus (bacteria)

Sources:

●Cereals (especially rice)/spices

●Corn flour/bean sprouts

●Soil/vegetation

●Dust/dried foods

●Intestinal tract of humans

 

Symptoms (1-5 days):

●Vomiting, ab. pain, nausea, and occasional diarrhea (if toxin is in food)

●Diarrhea, ab. pain and occasional vomiting (If toxin is in intestine)

 

Features:

●Spore former and a heat-resistant exotoxin in food.

Campylobacter (Bacteria)

Symptoms:

●Diarrhea (often bloodstained)

 

Features:

●Commonest cause of bacterial diarrhea

●Magpies and milk bottles

●60% chickens contaminated.

E. coli O157 (Bacteria)

Symptoms:

●Can affect kidneys (especially young and elderly)

 

Features:

●Undercooked burgers/mince (ground beef), apple juice and salad.

Norovirus – Viral Gastroenteritis (virus)

Symptoms

●Projectile vomiting and diarrhea

Features

●Commonest cause of vomiting/diarrhea

●Airborne spread/environmental contamination/person to person

●Viruses don’t multiply in food only in living cells.

Hepatitis A (Virus)

Symptoms

●Affects the liver -jaundice

Features

●Exclude carriers/ill people

●Sewage contamination of shellfish and salads major concern.

Listeria (Bacteria)

Symptoms:

●Flu-like, abortion in pregnant women

 

Features:

●Multiplies in fridge (as low as -1°C)

●Soft cheese/pâté/chilled foods.

Dysentery (Virus)

Symptoms

●Bloodstained diarrhea

Features:

●Exclude ill food handlers and if close family contacts, especially children, are ill.