Staphylococcus aureus

Medical Microbiology Disease of the Week 2 (part 2)

Classification

enterotoxicosis (food poisoning)

Causative organism

Staphylococcus aureus

Epidemiology

reservoir- animals and their environment

portal of entry- digestive tract (oral)

transmission- unsanitary food prep, eating contaminated food, human to human, poor hygiene

Incubation

0.5-6 hours

Pathogenesis

digestion of infected food typically kills bacteria but does not inactivate the enterotoxins they produce. the toxins act as super antigens that rapidly activate local and systemic inflammatory responses and trigger digestive tract emptying.

Symptoms

vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, improves in ~24 hours

Complications

severe dehydration, gastroenteritis, staph infection, TSS

Prevention

good hygiene, safe food handling

Treatment

clear liquids, oral rehydration (antibiotics will NOT work)