Food and Waterborne Diseases

Dental caries

Tooth decay caused by bacterial infection.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of the gums, often due to plaque buildup.

Infective endocarditis

Inflammation of the inner tissue of the heart, usually due to infection.

Subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE)

A slowly progressing infection of the heart, typically caused by streptococci.

Acute Bacterial endocarditis (ABE)

A rapidly progressing heart infection, often caused by staphylococcus aureus.

Incubation

The period of time between exposure to a pathogen and the onset of symptoms.

Non-Inflammatory Gastroenteritis

Gastrointestinal illness typically caused by enterotoxins or intoxication.

Staphylococcal food poisoning

Illness caused by enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus producing heat-stable enterotoxins.

Clostridial food poisoning

Illness caused by Clostridium perfringens.

Bacillus cereus food poisoning

Illness characterized by an emetic syndrome due to enterotoxin production.

Botulism

A severe illness caused by Clostridium botulinum, characterized by flaccid paralysis due to neurotoxin.

Infant botulism

A form of botulism caused by contaminated honey affecting infants.

Wound botulism

Botulism resulting from spores entering a wound.

Inflammatory Gastroenteritis

Infection of the gastrointestinal tract, typically affecting the small bowel.

Invasive Gastroenteritis

Infection of gastrointestinal tracts, typically affecting the colon.

Cholera

An infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholera, leading to “rice-water stools” and dehydration. Requires large infectious dose

Escherichia Coli

A bacterium that is part of normal gut flora, with some pathogenic strains.

ETEC

Enterotoxigenic E. Coli, a strain affecting travelers in endemic areas.

EPEC

Enteropathogenic E. Coli, which can be fatal in infants.

Clostridium difficile

A bacterium associated with antibiotic use, causing pseudomembranous colitis. Treated w/ fecal trandplant.

Vibriosis

An infection caused by contaminated seafood, particularly from Vibrio parahaemolyticus and vibrio vulnificus (50% fatal)

Typhoid fever

A blood infection caused by Salmonella enterica serotype typhi, transmitted by the 5 F's. Characterized by “rose spots” and lays dormant in spleen and gallblader.

Salmonellosis

An illness caused by Salmonella, requiring a large dose for infection.

Shigellosis

Bacterial dysentery caused by Shigella, requiring only a small number of bacteria to infect.

Enterohemorrhagic colitis (EHEC strains)

Illness caused by shiga toxin-producing E. Coli, notably E. coli 0157:H7. Can lead to HUS

Campylobacteriosis

An infection caused by Campylobacter jejuni, leading to explosive, bloody diarrhea.

Listeriosis

An infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, affecting primarily newborns and pregnant women.

Brucellosis

An infection caused by Brucella species, characterized by undulant fever and daytime sweating w/ nighttime chills.