Food and Water Illnesses

DNA fingerprinting (PFGE) can figure out what

strain

Food illness Common symptoms

Nausea, Vomiting, Abdominal cramps, Diarrhea- depends on strain

Food illness classification

≥2 people affected. Not from same household

Food illness danger signs

Bloody diarrhea, Stiff neck + headache + fever, Excessive vomiting/diarrhea

Vomiting time home

24 hrs w/o

Diarrhea time home

24 hrs w/o

Norovirus time home

ideally 72 hrs after symptoms

Sore throat + fever

restrict until cleared

Open wounds

must be covered

Reportable food illness SHENS

Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli (STEC O157), Neurovirus, Hep A

Norovirus

Peaks in winter, closed spaces, Spread via- Vegetables, Shellfish. Prevent with bleach

Hepatitis A symp

2–6 weeks incubation- Jaundice, Itching

Type O

More severe cholera, More stomach acid

Type B

“Iron stomach”

Types A, B, AB

↑ dementia risk (82%), Bacteria

Shigella symp

bloody diarrhea (10–30/day), Fever

Common in- Daycares, Prisons, Long recovery

E. coli

Deadly Produces shiga toxin

Ecoli Symp and complications

Bloody diarrhea, HUS, TTP. Kidney failure

Clostridium perfringens cause

ndercooked poultry, Raw milk

Clostridium perfringens symp

Rapid onset (6–24 hr). Sudden onset colic diarrhea, Cramping, Short duration, Campylobacter

Listeria symp

Fever, pains, miscarriage, deadly for babies- Especially bad if pregnant

Mushroom poisoning symp and tx

SLUDGE (muscarinic). Tx- atropine

Short incubation

toxin~1 day

Several day incubation

bacteria

Short Duration

virus/toxin

Long Duration

bacteria

Diarrhea

Virus or bacteria

Vomiting

toxin

Severe symp

bacteria

Closed population

virus

Large event

Toxin/virus

Supportive care

Rest, Rehydration, Avoid routine anti-diarrheals (especially kids)

Antibiotic tx

severe cases only.Don’t take in children and pregnancy

Giardia (“Beaver Fever”)

Greasy stools, Gas, Cramps. Spread via contaminated water

Giardia Tx

Flagyl (no alcohol)

Microbiologic Testing

Stool should be tested if diarrhea lasts more than 1 day or if - Bloody diarrhea, Fever, Dehydration, Neurologic symptoms

Typical order for testing

Stool culture + ova & parasites