Clinical Features of Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

Was the onset of symptoms soon (within a couple of hours) after eating?

Is the implicated food ham, chicken, turkey, egg salad, potato salad or a cream-filled pastry?

• nausea and vomiting?

• diarrhea?

• fever?

• paresthesias?

Duration of the episode

Did culture of implicated food grow a Staphylococcus species?

Did analysis of the implicated food show evidence of a staphylococcal enterotoxin?

Is there laboratory evidence of another reason for food poisonng?