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Bacillus cereus poisoning
🍚 Bacillus cereus is a classic exam bug, linked to rapid-onset food poisoning — especially after reheated fried rice. ⏱️ Symptoms appear within hours and usually resolve in 24 hours.
📖 About
- Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming foodborne pathogen with rapid onset symptoms.
- Classic exam association: “Fried Rice Syndrome” 🍚.
🌍 Source
- Found in food environments, kitchens, and food-processing areas.
- 🍚 Improperly stored cooked rice is the most common culprit.
- Can also affect pasta, sauces, cakes, and vegetables if left at room temperature.
🧬 Characteristics
- Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming bacillus.
- Spore survival 🌡️: resistant to boiling, germinate in warm/stored food.
- Produces two toxins:
- ⏱️ Emetic toxin: Rapid vomiting (1–5 h).
- 💩 Diarrhoeal toxin: Watery diarrhoea (8–16 h).
🤒 Clinical Features
- Projectile vomiting 🤢 within 1–5 hours of ingestion.
- Abdominal cramps and diarrhoea may follow.
- Self-limiting ⏳ — resolves within 24 h.
- Rare: pneumonia, endocarditis, or bacteraemia (immunocompromised).
💊 Management
- Supportive care: oral/IV fluids 💧.
- No role for antibiotics in foodborne illness.
- Public health reporting 🚨 if outbreak linked to catering/restaurant food.
🧠 Mnemonic — “CEREUS = CEREAL (Rice)”
- Cooked rice 🍚 left out → spores germinate
- Emetic toxin ⏱️ → vomiting fast
- Rapid onset (1–5 h)
- End within 24 h
- Usually self-limiting
- Supportive fluids only 💧
📚 References
| The content on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only to support exam preparation (e.g., MLA, MRCP, USMLE) and learning. This is NOT medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional guidance. It does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, official guidelines (e.g., NICE, GMC, BNF), or supervised clinical practice. Always verify information with current, authoritative sources. Makindo and its contributors accept no liability for any reliance on this content, including errors, omissions, or any resulting harm, loss, or consequences. By using this site, you agree to these terms. |
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