During a hot afternoon in August, Sara hosted a baby shower for her best friend.Other friends brought much of the food, including a cold cut platter and potato and macaroni salads.They set the food items out on the picnic table in the shade, and then chatted and enjoyed watching their friend open her gifts.It was close to two hours later before they had their meal.Later that evening, eight of the guests who had attended the shower began to feel nauseated and began to vomit severely.The vomiting lasted most of the night, but as morning came, it diminished and they began to recover.What is the most likely cause of the illness?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are consistent with staphylococcal food intoxication, which is caused by consuming foods contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. These bacteria produce a heat-stable toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms within hours of ingestion. The fact that the symptoms were relatively short-lived (lasting only one night) also supports this diagnosis, as staphylococcal food intoxication usually resolves within 24-48 hours.

During a Hot Afternoon in August, Sara Hosted a Baby