Situation 25.1
Following a county fair, 160 persons complained of gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms included diarrhea (84 percent), abdominal cramps (96 percent), nausea (84 percent), vomiting (82 percent), body aches (50 percent), fever (60 percent; median body temperature = 38.3°C); median duration of illness 6 days (range 10 hr to 13 days).
-In Situation 25.1,fecal samples were found to be negative when cultured.The next step in diagnosing the cause of illness would be The relative risks shown in Table 25.1 were calculated for foods suspected of transmitting Salmonella.Which food is the most likely source of infection?
A.black beans
B.corn soup
C.jalapeño peppers
D.roma tomatoes
E.The answer cannot be determined based on the information provided.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The relative risk for jalapeño peppers is the highest among the suspected foods, indicating that it is the most likely source of infection. If fecal samples were negative when cultured, the next step in diagnosing the cause of illness would be to collect and analyze additional samples from the suspected food sources, as well as to investigate other potential sources of contamination. Antibiotic therapy should not be initiated until the causative agent is identified. Blood cultures and microscopic examination of feces can also help to identify the causative agent, but in this case, additional testing of food samples would be the most appropriate next step. Muscular biopsy would not be necessary for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal illness.

Situation 25.1 Following a County Fair, 160 Persons Complained of Gastrointestinal Symptoms