Staphylococcal food poisoning includes the following feature
Enterotoxin is responsible for the manifestations of staphylococcal food poisoning: nausea, vomiting and diarrhea 2-6 hours after consuming food contaminated by a preformed toxin. About two-thirds of S.aureus strains, growing in carbohydrate and protein foods secrete the toxin. Meat and fish or milk and milk products cooked and left at room temperature after contamination with staphylococci, for enough time for the toxin to accumulate, are the common items responsible. The toxin is relatively heat stable. Ref: Textbook of Microbiology; Ananthanarayan and Paniker's; 10th Edition; Page No: 204
Incubation period of 24 hrs
Requires immediate antibiotics
Common with dairy products
Heat labile enterotoxin
Bacteriology