Bacteria and Viruses
Bacteria and viruses are the most common cause of food poisoning. The symptoms and severity of food poisoning vary, depending on which bacteria or virus has contaminated the food.
To prevent illness, always follow the food safety steps: clean, separate, cook, and chill. Other prevention tips for specific bacteria and viruses are included below.
The bacteria and viruses that cause the most illnesses, hospitalizations, or deaths in the United States are described below and include:
- Campylobacter
- Clostridium perfringens
- E. coli
- Listeria
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
Other important bacteria and viruses that cause foodborne illness include:
- Bacillus cereus
- Botulism
- Hepatitis A
- Shigella
- Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcal [Staph] Food Poisoning)
- Vibrio Species Causing Vibriosis
Bacillus cereus
Sources | A variety of foods, particularly rice and leftovers, as well as sauces, soups, and other prepared foods that have sat out too long at room temperature. |
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Incubation period |
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Symptoms |
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Duration of illness | 24 hours |
What to do | Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, call your doctor. |
Prevention |
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Botulism
Sources |
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Incubation period |
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Symptoms |
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Duration of illness | Variable |
What to do | Botulism is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of botulism, see your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. |
Prevention |
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Campylobacter
Sources | Unpasteurized (raw) milk, chicken, shellfish, turkey, contaminated water. |
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Incubation period | 2 to 5 days |
Symptoms | Diarrhea, cramps, fever, and vomiting; diarrhea may be bloody. |
Duration of illness | About one week |
What to do |
Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or if your symptoms are severe, call your doctor. Antibiotics are recommended only for patients who are very ill or are more likely to develop a serious illness, such as people with weakened immune systems. |
Prevention |
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Clostridium perfringens
Sources | Beef, poultry, gravies, food left for long periods in steam tables or at room temperature, and time and/or temperature abused foods. |
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Incubation period | 6 to 24 hours |
Symptoms | Diarrhea and stomach cramps (no fever or vomiting), |
Duration of illness | Less than 24 hours. In severe cases, symptoms may last for 1-2 weeks. |
What to do | Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, call your doctor. |
Prevention |
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E. coli
Sources |
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Incubation period | 3 to 4 days for most people, can be 1 to 10 days
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Symptoms |
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Duration of illness | 5 to 10 days. Most people will be better in 5 to 7 days. If HUS develops, it usually occurs after about 1 week. |
What to do | Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or if your symptoms are severe (including bloody diarrhea or severe stomach pain), call your doctor. |
Prevention |
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Hepatitis A
Sources | Raw or undercooked shellfish from contaminated waters, raw produce, contaminated drinking water, uncooked foods, and cooked foods that are not reheated after contact with an infected food handler. |
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Incubation period | 28 days average (ranges from 15 to 50 days) |
Symptoms | Diarrhea, dark urine or light-colored stools, jaundice, fever, fatigue, nausea, joint pain, stomach pain, upset stomach, and loss of appetite. |
Duration of illness | Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although some people can be ill for as long as 6 months. |
What to do | See your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of hepatitis A or think you may have been exposed to the virus. |
Prevention |
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Listeria
Sources |
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Incubation period | Usually 1 to 4 weeks, can be as long as 70 days |
Symptoms |
Listeria can cause fever and diarrhea similar to other foodborne germs, but this type of Listeria infection is rarely diagnosed. Symptoms in people with invasive listeriosis, meaning the bacteria has spread beyond the gut, include:
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Duration of illness | Days to weeks |
Who is at risk |
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What to do | For invasive listeriosis, antibiotics given promptly can cure the infection. In pregnant women, antibiotics are given to prevent infection in the unborn baby. |
Prevention |
Recommendations for everyone:
Recommendations for people at higher risk:
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Norovirus
Sources |
Produce, shellfish, ready-to-eat foods touched by infected food workers (salads, sandwiches, ice, cookies, fruit), or any other foods contaminated with particles of vomit or feces from an infected person. |
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Incubation period | 12 to 48 hours |
Symptoms | Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. Diarrhea tends to be watery and non-bloody. Diarrhea is more common in adults and vomiting is more common in children. |
Duration of illness | 1 to 3 days. Among young children, older adults, and hospitalized patients, it can last 4 to 6 days. |
What to do | Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, call your doctor. |
Prevention |
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Salmonella
Sources |
Food: A variety of foods have been linked to Salmonella, including vegetables, chicken, pork, fruits, nuts, eggs, beef and sprouts. Animals and their environments: Particularly reptiles (snakes, turtles, lizards), amphibians (frogs), birds (baby chicks) and pet food and treats. |
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Incubation period | 6 hours to 6 days |
Symptoms | Diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, vomiting |
Duration of illness | 4 to 7 days |
What to do |
Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or if your symptoms are severe, call your doctor. Antibiotics are recommended only for patients who have a serious illness (such as severe diarrhea, high fever, or bloodstream infection), or are more likely to develop a severe illness or complications (infants, adults over 65 years old, and people with weakened immune systems). |
Prevention |
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Shigella
Sources | Contact with an infected person or consumption of contaminated food or water. Shigella foodborne outbreaks are most often associated with contamination by a sick food handler. |
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Incubation period | 1 to 7 days (usually 1 to 2 days) |
Symptoms | Sudden stomach cramping, fever, diarrhea that may be bloody or contains mucus, nausea, and feeling the need to pass stool even when the bowels are empty. |
Duration of illness | 5 to 7 days |
Who's at risk? | Children, especially toddlers aged 2-4, though anyone can be infected with Shigella. |
What to do | Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. Stay home from school or work to avoid spreading the bacteria to others. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or have bloody diarrhea, call your doctor. |
Prevention |
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Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcal (Staph) Food Poisoning
Sources | People who carry the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), which is commonly found on the skin, can contaminate food if they don't wash their hands before touching it. Foods that are not cooked after handling, such as sliced meats, puddings, pastries, and sandwiches, are especially risky if contaminated with Staph. |
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Incubation period | 30 minutes to 8 hours |
Symptoms | Sudden start of nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Most people also have diarrhea. |
Duration of illness | 1 day |
What to do | Drink plenty of fluids. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration, call your doctor. Your doctor may give you medicine to decrease nausea and vomiting. |
Prevention |
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Vibrio Species Causing Vibriosis
Sources | Most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Certain Vibrio species can also cause a skin infection when an open wound is exposed to salt water or brackish water. Brackish water is a mixture of fresh water and salt water. It is often found where rivers meet the sea. |
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Incubation period |
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Symptoms |
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Duration of illness | 3 days, when spread through food. Duration of wound infections is variable. |
What to do | If you have symptoms within a few days after eating raw or undercooked seafood, especially oysters, or develop a skin infection after being exposed to salt water or brackish water, contact your doctor. Don’t chance it! Some Vibrio species, such as Vibrio vulnificus, can cause particularly severe and life-threatening infections. |
Prevention |
If you are in a group more likely to get a Vibrio infection, such as people with liver disease:
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