Enterotoxicosis

Enterotoxicosis (food poisoning)

Staphylococcus aureus

Gram-possitive cocci, facultative anerobe, enterotoxins (protien based SE(A-1))

Animals and their enviroments (25% of people are healthy carriers)

Digestive tract- oral

Unsanitary food preparation, ingestion of contaminated food, human to human, poor hygiene

0.5-6 hrs

Digestion of food contaminated with Staph. aureus typically kills the bacteria but fails to inactivate the enterotoxins they produce. The toxins act as Superantigens, which rapidly activate local and systemic inflammatory responses and trigger digestive tract emptying

Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, usually improves within 24 hrs

Severe dehydration, gastroenteritis, staph infection, Toxic shock syndrome

Practice good hygiene, safe food handling. Future- vaccines against superantigens

Clear liquids, oral rehydration salts or premixed oral rehydration solutions, antibiotics infective for intoxication