Food Poisoning

Question 1

What is the most common cause of food-borne diarrhoea in the UK?

Answer 1

Campylobacter

Question 2

What is the incubation period of campylobacter?

Answer 2

2-4 days

Question 3

What are the common sources of campylobacter?

Answer 3

Infected poultry or raw milk

Question 4

How is diagnosis of campylobacter made?

Answer 4

stool cultures

Question 5

What are the symptoms of campylobacter infection?

Answer 5

bloody diarrhoea (haemorrhagic colitis), fever, abdominal pain

Question 6

What complication of campylobacter is likely to require admission (particularly in the elderly or infants)?

Answer 6

dehydration

Question 7

In the immunosuppressed or severe cases of campylobacter what antibiotics are used?

Answer 7

erythromycin or azithromycin

Question 8

How is salmonella infection normally acquired?

Answer 8

raw eggs, poultry or reptiles

Question 9

What is the incubation period of salmonella?

Answer 9

12-48 hours

Question 10

How is salmonella infection confirmed?

Answer 10

blood or stool culture, classified by presence of O or H antigens (by serotyping)

Question 11

What is a complication of salmonella infection?

Answer 11

bacteraemia/ septicaemia

Question 12

Which organism of gastroenteritis needs the smallest dose to cause infection?

Answer 12

Shigella

Question 13

Which organism produces shiga-like toxins?

Answer 13

E.coli 0157

Question 14

What are the common forms of transmission of E.coli?

Answer 14

beef mince, raw milk and animal contact

Question 15

What is the advised treatment for E.coli 0157?

Answer 15

No antibiotics! causes increased toxin release

Question 16

What is a concerning complication of E.coli 0157?

Answer 16

haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), especially in <5s.

Question 17

Which pathogen causes symptoms within 2-4 hours of consumption and often resolves within 24 hours?

Answer 17

Staph. aureus

Question 18

Which pathogen is associated with rice?

Answer 18

Bacillus cereus

Question 19

How is Clostridium dificile usually acquired?

Answer 19

Disruption of normal gut flora by antibiotic use

Question 20

How is C.diff infection confirmed?

Answer 20

toxin detection in stool by ELISA or PCR

Question 21

What is the most severe complication of C.diff (apart from death)?

Answer 21

Toxicmegacolon

Question 22

How is C.diff treated?

Answer 22

PO metronidazole (non-severe) or PO vancomycin +/- IV metronidazole (severe)

Question 23

Which two pathogens are most likely to cause profuse vomiting?

Answer 23

bacillus cereus and staph aureus

Question 24

Which (5) organisms can cause bloody diarrhoea?

Answer 24

shigella, salmonella, campylobacter, E.coli and C.diff

Question 25

Which antibiotic is used to treat giardia infection?

Answer 25

metronidazole

Question 26

Which antibiotics are used to treat peritonitis?

Answer 26

amoxicillin, metronidazole and gentamicin