section name header

General Reference

Nejm 1984;310:1368, 1437

Pathophys and Cause

Cause:Staphylococcus aureus

Pathophys:Heat-stable enterotoxin produced by staph in food after preparation, eg, potato salad. Lack of fever indicates a toxin disease

Epidemiology

Most common type of food poisoning

Signs and Symptoms

Sx:8-h incubation period. Nausea, vomiting, and some diarrhea without fever. Excess N+V relative to diarrhea suggests staph rather than others

Complications

r/o clostridial and Bacillus cereusfood poisonings, both of which also lack fever

Lab and Xray

Lab:None unless need to work up for public health reasons, then Gram stain and culture the food

Treatment

Rx:Symptomatic