Mnemonic: AB-BC-CES
| Bacteria | Vomiting | Diarrhea | Fever | Food source | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-6 hrs (Preformed toxins) | |||||
| Aureus (S. aureus) | +++ | +/- | +/- | Meats, dairy, bakery | 24-48 hrs |
| B. Cereus | +++ | +/- | – | Reheated fried rice | 24 hrs |
| 8-16 hrs | |||||
| B. Cereus (diarrheal toxin) | +/- | +++ | – | Meats, stews, gravy | 24-48 hrs |
| C. Perfringes | +/- | +++ | – | Rewarmed meat and poultry dishes | 24-48 hrs |
| >16 hrs | |||||
| C. Botulinum (12-72 hrs) | +/- | – | – | Canned foods | days-months |
| C. Jejuni (2-5 days) | +/- | +++ | – | Poultry, raw milk | 2-10 days |
| Cholerae – vibrio (24-72 hrs) | + | +++ | – | Contaminated water, Shellfish | |
| ETEC (1-3 days) | +/- | +++ | +/- | Water, fecal contaminated foods | 3-7 days |
| EHEC (1-8 days) | + | +++ (bloody) | – | Beef, raw milk, raw vergetables | 5-10 days |
| Shigella (1-2 days) | +/- | + (blood and pus) | + | Salad, eggs | 1-2 days |
| Salmonella (1-3 days) | – | ++ | + | Beef, poultry, eggs, dairy | 4-7 days |
Further reading:
- Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment, 2018
- Diagnosis and Management of Foodborne Illness | AAFP