Staphylococcal food poisoning is a disease caused by staphylococcal enterotoxins, characterized by sudden onset, severe vomiting accompanied by loss and collapse.

bubble_chart Epidemiology

The incidence is higher in summer and autumn, and all age groups can be affected. There is no significant immunity after the disease, and the disease is not pestilential.

bubble_chart Pathogen

The bacteria causing this disease are limited to plasma coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, and only some of these strains can produce enterotoxins, including five serotypes A to E, with type A enterotoxin being the most common. The clinical symptoms are caused by enterotoxins, which are heat-resistant.

Chinese Taxillus Herb Staphylococcus aureus on human skin, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, nails, and various skin suppurative foci can contaminate starchy foods (leftover rice, porridge, rice noodles, etc.), milk and dairy products, fish, meat, eggs, etc. When contaminated food is left at room temperature (20-22°C) for 5 hours, the bacteria multiply rapidly and produce enterotoxins.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

The incubation period is short, generally 2 to 5 hours, rarely exceeding 6 hours. The onset is abrupt, with nausea, vomiting, mid-upper abdominal pain, and diarrhea, with vomiting being the most prominent. The vomitus may be bilious or contain blood and mucus. Severe vomiting and diarrhea often lead to collapse, muscle spasms, and severe dehydration. Body temperature is mostly normal or slightly elevated. Recovery usually occurs rapidly within a few hours to 1-2 days.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

A preliminary diagnosis can be made based on the consumption of coagulable food, collective onset of illness, and severe but short-lived symptoms; the diagnosis is confirmed if Staphylococcus aureus is detected in the food (with bacterial counts reaching hundreds of millions per gram of food).

Strengthen dietary management; isolate cows suffering from mastitis, and temporarily transfer cooks or food industry workers with skin suppurative lesions from their duties.

The treatment for the gastroenteritis type caused by Salmonella infection mainly focuses on keeping warm, fluid infusion, and dietary adjustment, and generally does not require the use of antibacterial drugs.