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Food Poisoning, Bacterial

Irfan H Siddiqui, MD, Rosario Bartolomeo, DO and Samantha J Storti, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Food poisoning or foodborne illness is caused by the consumption of food or water that is contaminated with bacterial, parasitic, or viral pathogens. Other causes can result from ing...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Onset, duration, frequency, severity, and character (i.e., watery, bloody, mucus-filled, etc.) of diarrhea

  • The definition of diarrhea is >3 or more unformed stools daily or the pass...

TREATMENT

Most cases of food poisoning are self-limited. 

MEDICATION

First Line

  • Oral rehydration is the first-line therapy for acute diarrheal illness (4). A balanced oral rehydration solution (ORS) is ...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

  • Modify food intake when nausea is present or vomiting prevents intake. Drink plenty of fluids in frequent sips. As nausea subsides, drink adequate fluids; add in bland, low-fat meals;...

REFERENCES

1
Sell J, Dolan, B. Common gastrointestinal infections. Prim Care. 2018;45(3):519–532.
2
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Food Poisoning. https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-poisoni...

SEE ALSO

Appendicitis, Acute; Botulism; Brucellosis; Dehydration; Diarrhea, Acute; Guillain-Barré Syndrome; Hypokalemia; Intestinal Parasites; Salmonella Infection; Typhoid Fever 

CODES

ICD10

  • A05.9 Bacterial foodborne intoxication, unspecified

  • A02.0 Salmonella enteritis

  • A04.5 Campylobacter enteritis

  • A05.2 Foodborne Clostridium perfringens intoxication

  • A05.4 Foodborne Bacillus cereus...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Consider bacterial food poisoning when multiple patients present with fever and blood/mucus in stool after ingesting the same food or having recently returned from a developing nation.

  • ...

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