Types of Food Poisoning
Salmonella
Symptoms include a general feeling of illness,
diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, high fever and sometimes
vomiting. First symptoms can take up to 4 days from the eating of
contaminated food, but is more usually 12 - 48 hours. This illness
normally lasts 3 weeks but can last longer.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
One of the most common causes of food poisoning
in the UK, of which there are several types. This infection is
caused by large numbers of bacteria living on food. Salmonella is
commonly found in cows and raw milk, poultry, pigs, pets and wild
animals. The spread is mainly food borne via raw or undercooked
food (e.g. poultry) or milk, and it can occasionally come directly
from infected animals including household pets. Person to person
spread can also occur.
The bacteria multiply rapidly at room
temperature therefore refrigeration is necessary for high risk
foods such as cooked meat and dairy products. The separation of
raw, and cooked / ready to eat foods is essential.
Salmonella is easily killed by heat therefore
the risk lies in the consumption of raw foods, inadequately cooked
foods or cooked/ ready to eat foods which have been contaminated
either as a result of poor handling, storage or the use of dirty
utensils.
Exclusions
Any food handler who is ill should inform their
supervisor and not return to school, nursery or work until they
have been free from symptoms for 48 hours and after ending any
treatment. You could still be a carrier i.e. excreting the bacteria
for up to 12 weeks once your symptoms have ended. Being a carrier
should not prevent you from returning to work however it is
essential that good personal hygiene is practised at all
times.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- If you or your child are suffering from
diarrhoea or vomiting you or your child should stay home from work,
school or nursery.
- Hands must be thoroughly washed after visiting
or cleaning the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating and after every visit to the toilet.
- Toilets including seats, handles, and sink taps
must be frequently cleaned and disinfected.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately, wear gloves preferably disposable, and use disposable
cloths or paper towels, which should be disposed of in sealed bags.
Any affected surfaces must be thoroughly disinfected.
- Any soiled clothes or bedding should be washed
separately from the main wash at the
Campylobacter
Symptoms: Severe diarrhoea and abdominal pain
following a general feeling of illness are the symptoms most
associated with this illness. Vomiting is rare. This illness may be
confused with appendicitis.
First symptoms can take 1-10 days (most
commonly 2-5 days) from initial contact with the contaminated
source. The illness can last from 2 days to a week, and is very
rarely fatal even in vulnerable groups.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
This illness is most closely associated with
food, water and milk, which have been contaminated. Campylobacter
is widely distributed in nature, and are also found in the
intestinal tract of some animals, in particular poultry. The
thorough cooking of food is an important control measure which
destroys any contamination present. Care must be taken after
cooking, as further contamination may be introduced by direct or
indirect contact (cross-contamination) with contaminated raw meat
or by an infected food handler who is not carrying out good
personal hygiene.
Pasteurisation and water treatment will destroy
any campylobacter that is present in the milk or water (animals may
shed the bacteria into watercourses). However incidents of
contamination may occur afterwards such as bird pecked milk
bottles.
Direct contact with contaminated animals i.e.
pets, farm animals and wild birds is also a source of
infection.
Person to person spread is uncommon.
Exclusions
Once you have recovered and have not
experienced any symptoms, such as diarrhoea, for 48 hours, then you
can go back to work or school.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL
GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- Anyone suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting
should stay away from work, school, and nursery or similar.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using or cleaning
the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating or touching food, after each visit to the
toilet and after playing with or stroking pets or other
animals.
- Frequently clean and disinfect toilets including
seats, handles and sink taps.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately. Use gloves (preferably disposable), disposable cloths
or paper towels, and dispose of in bags which can be sealed.
Thoroughly disinfect any affected surfaces.
- Wash any soiled clothes or bedding separately
from the main wash, at the highest recommended temperatures.
- Use separate towels and replace them
frequently.
Cryptosporidium
Symptoms: Within 1 2 weeks of ingesting the
parasite, the following symptoms may be experienced diarrhoea,
bloating, cramping and abdominal pain. There may be vomiting but
this is uncommon.
The illness can last up to 3 weeks.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
This illness is caused by a microscopic
parasite which enters the body in contaminated food or water, by
person to person spread or contact with farm animals and
pets.
If water is the suspected source of your
illness then bringing water to the boil will kill the parasite, the
cooled water can then be used for drinking and food
preparation
Exclusions
Once you have recovered and have not
experienced any symptoms, such as diarrhoea, for 48 hours, then you
can go back to work or school.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- Anyone suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting
should stay away from work, school, and nursery or similar.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using or cleaning
the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating or touching food, after each visit to the
toilet and after playing with or stroking pets or other
animals.
- Frequently clean and disinfect toilets including
seats, handles and sink taps.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately. Use gloves (preferably disposable), disposable cloths
or paper towels, and dispose of in bags which can be sealed.
Thoroughly disinfect any affected surfaces.
- Wash any soiled clothes or bedding separately
from the main wash, at the highest recommended temperatures.
- Use separate towels and replace them
frequently.
Ecoli O157
Symptoms: From eating contaminated food to the
first symptoms can take from 12 hours to 2 weeks, but it is usually
around 48 hours. Less than 100 organisms need to be ingested for
this illness to occur. Symptoms can vary from mild diarrhoea to
severe bloody diarrhoea and kidney problems, in extreme cases
fatalities can occur. Generally it is vomiting and diarrhoea which
are characteristic of this illness. This illness normally lasts 2
weeks but can last longer.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are
commonly found in the human gut and are normally quite harmless.
There are however different strains of E. coli and amongst these
strains are those which produce toxins which in turn can cause
illness in humans. One of these toxin producing strains is E. coli
0157 VTEC.
Foods which have been linked with this illness are beef, beef
product, salads, wild mushrooms, raw milk and yoghurt. It is
important to note that any food or drink can become contaminated if
it comes into contact with infected food or with contaminated
equipment or hands.
Farm animals can pass the illness to humans and
person to person spread can also occur.
Exclusions
If the person who is ill is a food handler or
works with or is in regular contact with the very young or elderly
then they should not return to school, nursery or work until they
have provided 2 consecutive clear stool samples produced 48 hours
apart.
Food handlers may need to be formally excluded
from work. You should contact the Environmental Health unit for
information on formal exclusion.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- Anyone suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting
should stay away from work, school, and nursery or similar.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using or cleaning
the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating or touching food, after each visit to the
toilet and after playing with or stroking pets or other
animals.
- Frequently clean and disinfect toilets including
seats, handles and sink taps.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately. Use gloves (preferably disposable), disposable cloths
or paper towels, and dispose of in bags which can be sealed.
Thoroughly disinfect any affected surfaces.
- Wash any soiled clothes or bedding separately
from the main wash, at the highest recommended temperatures.
- Use separate towels and replace them
frequently.
Listeria Monocytogenes
Symptoms: This bacterium can cause a range of
symptoms from a mild chill or flu like illness to a severe illness
and meningitis. The very young, elderly, pregnant women and
immunocompromised people such as transplant patients and HIV
positive individuals are at greatest risk from this illness. In
pregnant women Listeriosis may cause premature birth or
miscarriage. Infection in healthy adults and children is
rare.
The illness has a long incubation period as it
can be 3 70 days between exposure and the first signs and symptoms.
The length of illness is variable.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
The listeria bacterium is widespread in the
environment. The sources are numerous and include man (around 5% of
the population of normal healthy people have found to have Listeria
monocytogenes in their systems).
If you are one of the at risk groups previously
mentioned you can reduce the chance of contracting this illness
by:
- Avoiding certain soft and blue veined cheeses
and meat pates.
- Thorough cooking of food.
- Thorough reheating of foods such as ready
meals.
- Pregnant women should avoid helping with
lambing.
Exclusion
Once you have recovered and have not
experienced any symptoms, such as diarrhoea, for 48 hours, then you
can go back to work or school.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- Anyone suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting
should stay away from work, school, and nursery or similar.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using or cleaning
the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating or touching food, after each visit to the
toilet and after playing with or stroking pets or other
animals.
- Frequently clean and disinfect toilets including
seats, handles and sink taps.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately. Use gloves (preferably disposable), disposable cloths
or paper towels, and dispose of in bags which can be sealed.
Thoroughly disinfect any affected surfaces.
- Wash any soiled clothes or bedding separately
from the main wash, at the highest recommended temperatures.
- Use separate towels and replace them
frequently.
Shigella - Bacillary Dysentery
Symptoms: Shigella is an acute disease of the
intestine characterised by diarrhoea, fever, stomach cramps and
often vomiting. These symptoms usually occur 1 3 days after
ingestion of the bacteria. Stools may contain blood, mucous and
pus, and the illness can last for up to 2 weeks (usually 4 7 days).
However you may be infectious for up to 4 weeks even if symptom
free.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
This particular illness can be caused by 4
different types of Shigella bacterium. In this country it is
usually Shigella sonnei and less frequently Shigella flexneii. From
abroad it may be Shigella dysenteriae or Shigella boydii. The
severity of the illness depends on the type of Shigella causing the
infection.
Man is the main reservoir of the bacteria which can be spread by
the faecal oral route from an infected person, e.g. poor toilet
facilities or practices, or by the consumption of contaminated
foods e.g. water, milk, imported iceberg lettuce. The illness is
more common and severe in children. However sporadic infections
occur after travel to areas where hygiene is poor and overcrowding
is common. Secondary infections in households due to person to
person spread can be as high as 40%. Fatality is normally less than
1%.
Exclusions
If you are a food handler whose work involves
touching unwrapped food which won't have further cooking the you
must stay off work until symptom free i.e. normal stools for 48
hours, however once back at work or school a high standard of
personal hygiene must be practised at all times.
For all other types of Shigella all infected
persons, excreters, and contacts of those who are ill and are food
handlers, work with the elderly or very young or are under 5 must
not return to work or school until they are free from
diarrhoea.
If you have Shigella dysenteriae then you will need to provide 2
consecutive negative stool samples before returning to work, school
or similar.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL
GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- Anyone suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting
should stay away from work, school, and nursery or similar.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using or cleaning
the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating or touching food, after each visit to the
toilet and after playing with or stroking pets or other
animals.
- Frequently clean and disinfect toilets including
seats, handles and sink taps.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately. Use gloves (preferably disposable), disposable cloths
or paper towels, and dispose of in bags which can be sealed.
Thoroughly disinfect any affected surfaces.
- Wash any soiled clothes or bedding separately
from the main wash, at the highest recommended temperatures.
- Use separate towels and replace them
frequently.
Small Round Structured Virus
Symptoms: The symptoms are often mild but a
combination of nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting (sometimes severe
& projectile) and can be debilitating, particularly in the
elderly and immunocompromised.
The first symptoms take around 15 to 50 hours
to appear and lasts up to 2 days.
Where does it come from and how does it spread?
This is an illness that comes primarily from
man's intestinal tract. The common causes of this illness are food
or water contaminated by infected food handlers or by sewage (e.g.
shellfish from sewage contaminated beds). It is also more commonly
passed from person to person either by direct contact or spread
through the air for example coughing.
Exclusions
If you are a food handler or work with
vulnerable people and show symptoms you should not work due to the
high risk of person to person spread. If anyone is sick,
particularly in a food room, then thorough cleaning and
disinfection must be carried out of the entire area.
48 hours after symptoms have ceased a food
handler can return to work.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL GP OR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Good hygiene practice
Personal hygiene is very important in
controlling this type of illness. We advise the following:
- Anyone suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting
should stay away from work, school, and nursery or similar.
- Wash hands thoroughly after using or cleaning
the toilet.
- Make sure that children wash their hands
thoroughly before eating or touching food, after each visit to the
toilet and after playing with or stroking pets or other
animals.
- Frequently clean and disinfect toilets including
seats, handles and sink taps.
- Any accidents or spillages must be cleared up
immediately. Use gloves (preferably disposable), disposable cloths
or paper towels, and dispose of in bags which can be sealed.
Thoroughly disinfect any affected surfaces.
- Wash any soiled clothes or bedding separately
from the main wash, at the highest recommended temperatures.
- Use separate towels and replace them
frequently.