Staphylococcal Gastroenteritis

Isabella R. Panelo

Staphylococcus
y Gram-positive y capable of producing a highly heat-stable protein toxin

Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

y Staphylococcus aureus inoculated into foods during

preparation
y 2nd most reported food borne disease y Heat resistant exotoxin acts as enterotoxin boiling for 30 mins

not sufficient to denature the exotoxin!

y Incubation period 1 6 hours; rapid recovery y Contaminated meats (ham!), fish, potato salad, custards, etc. y Mode of transmission: Human reservoir (nose); skin abscesses

Events in Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

Fig 25.6

Staphylococcus
y gram-positive cocci y Non-spore-forming y Catalase-positive

Mode of action
y Enterotoxin

Food contamination

Treatment