A 26-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 1 hour. The patient has not had diarrhea or fever. Two hours ago, he ate a sandwich ,potato salad and coleslaw during summer cookout in a park,. He has no history of serious illness and takes no medications. He appears ill. His temperature is 37.6°C (99.6°F), pulse is 80/min, and blood pressure is 122/68 mm Hg. Pulse oximetry on room air shows an oxygen saturation of 98%. Cardiac examination shows no abnormalities. The lungs are clear to auscultation. Abdominal examination shows diffuse mild tenderness with no rigidity, rebound, or guarding. His symptoms quickly resolve with supportive care. Which of the following strategies would have been most effective in preventing this patient's illness?

Question

A 26-year-old man is brought to the emergency department because of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 1 hour. The patient has not had diarrhea or fever. Two hours ago, he ate a sandwich ,potato salad and coleslaw during summer cookout in a park,. He has no history of serious illness and takes no medications. He appears ill. His temperature is 37.6°C (99.6°F), pulse is 80/min, and blood pressure is 122/68 mm Hg. Pulse oximetry on room air shows an oxygen saturation of 98%. Cardiac examination shows no abnormalities. The lungs are clear to auscultation. Abdominal examination shows diffuse mild tenderness with no rigidity, rebound, or guarding. His symptoms quickly resolve with supportive care.  Which of the following strategies would have been most effective in preventing this patient's illness?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Staphylococcal foodborne illness is due to the consumption of a preformed enterotoxin in contaminated food.  Most cases can be prevented by washing hands thoroughly prior to food preparation (prevents contamination) and ensuring proper refrigerated storage (prevents bacterial proliferation/enterotoxin production).

A 26-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department Because