Bacterial Food Poisoning

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, food poisoning is the cause for about 76 million illnesses, 3,25,000 hospitalizations and up to 5,000 deaths every year. Food poisoning is a common and mild illness that occurs immediately after consuming contaminant food or drinks. Though generally a mild condition, it can also result in death. This illness reveals itself in the form of fevers, chills, dehydration, bloody stools, etc.

Food poisoning can be caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, parasites or viruses. Moreover, it is also caused by toxic agents like poisonous mushrooms, pesticides on fruits and vegetables or improperly cooked foods. Improperly handled, packaged and stored foods also lead to food poisoning.

What is Bacterial Food Poisoning?

Bacteria dwelling in the intestines of infected humans or animals like pets, poultry and cattle can cause diarrhea in humans. Their feces can contaminate recreational water, drinking water, soil, meat during slaughter, food prepared with hands contaminated with stool. Improper washing of hands after using the bathroom can pave ways for the body system being contaminated. Stool to mouth contamination is a very common source of infection. Ear, throat, nose and urinary infections can also result in food poisoning. Moreover, undercooked ground beef, shellfish, raw eggs, unpasteurized milk, non-adequately stored or cooled food can also result in bacterial food poisoning.

Symptoms

About 48 hours after consumption of contaminated food, one will experience the poisoning symptoms. The symptoms of bacterial food poisoning are as follows:

• Nausea and occasional vomiting
• General malaise with fever (occasionally)
• Explosive diarrhea (loose or watery stools)
• Bloating
• Abdominal cramps

These were some of the mild food poisoning symptoms. Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, tiredness, sunken eyes, thirst, low amount of morning urine. The stool of an infected person is mostly contagious during diarrhea and remains contagious for up to 2 weeks after healing. In bacterial food poisoning, the bacteria spearheads inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, colon or rectum. This inflammation reduces the amount of nutrients and water absorbed in the small intestine, thereby resulting in diarrhea. Severe cases of infection can lead to ulcers and in the most extreme cases bacteria can enter the blood and affect other body organs as well.

Common Bacteria Involved in Food Poisoning

Staphylococcus aureus
Food poisoning due to this bacteria occurs mainly in food items requiring hand preparations, like ham salads, sandwich spreads, potato salads, etc. When such food items are left at room temperature for a long period of time, the bacteria grows and produces toxins. Maintaining good personal hygiene and refrigeration of food items will keep bacterial invasion at bay.

Salmonella
Salmonella is passed to humans from animals (poultry and pets). It is commonly caused by consumption of unpasteurized milk or undercooked poultry meat or eggs. The bacteria can spread from the intestine to other organs of the body.

Clostridium botulinum
This bacteria is responsible for one in every 400 cases of food poisoning in the US. Clostridium botulinum can exist as heat-resistant spores that grow and produce neurotoxins in processed, home-canned food products. The toxin produced by this bacteria can be destroyed by boiling the food for 10 minutes.

Campylobacter jejuni
This bacteria attacks weakened immune systems in severe ways. Sometimes it even causes arthritis, brain and nerve problems besides food poisoning.

Listeria
This bacteria is mainly found in soil and water. Vegetables growing in contaminated soil can be vectors of this bacteria. They are found in several types of uncooked meats and vegetables. Processed food also becomes contaminated after processing, for example, soft cheese and cold cuts.

Shigella (traveler's diarrhea)
The bacteria shigella is transmitted through feces and may cause dysentery and severe diarrhea. Poor hygienic conditions in overcrowded area are breeding grounds for these bacteria.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli are some other bacteria that cause bacterial food poisoning.

By observing the history of sudden onset of diarrhea after consumption of certain food or water, it can be suspected to be as a food poisoning symptom. Mild form of poisoning usually heals on its own within 2-3 days. During this time, the patient ought to drink lots of water, in order to prevent dehydration. Severe cases of diarrhea call for stool culture tests, since the tests will determine the kind of antibiotic treatment required. Presence of leukocytes and mysterious blood can be signs of bacterial invasions and need to be treated with antibiotics.