Question:medium
A group of people had pastries late at night followed by bouts of vomiting early in the morning. What could be the cause?
A group of people had pastries late at night followed by bouts of vomiting early in the morning. What could be the cause?
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Consider which organism produces a preformed heat-stable enterotoxin in cream-based foods causing rapid-onset vomiting.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
- S. aureus
- B. cereus
- E. coli
- Lactobacillus
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Food poisoning analysis:
The scenario describes a group outbreak after eating pastries, with vomiting as the predominant symptom and a short incubation (a few hours overnight).
Mechanism: $S. aureus$ produces a preformed, heat-stable enterotoxin in food (especially cream-based, high-sugar foods). Once ingested, the toxin acts on the gut and vagal afferents to cause rapid nausea and vomiting. No live bacteria are needed -- even if food is reheated, the toxin survives.
Comparison table:
\[\boxed{S. aureus}\]
The scenario describes a group outbreak after eating pastries, with vomiting as the predominant symptom and a short incubation (a few hours overnight).
Mechanism: $S. aureus$ produces a preformed, heat-stable enterotoxin in food (especially cream-based, high-sugar foods). Once ingested, the toxin acts on the gut and vagal afferents to cause rapid nausea and vomiting. No live bacteria are needed -- even if food is reheated, the toxin survives.
Comparison table:
- $S. aureus$: Cream pastries, custard; incubation 1-6 hrs; vomiting dominant -- MATCHES
- $B. cereus$ emetic: Fried rice; incubation 1-5 hrs; vomiting -- different food vehicle
- $E. coli$: Watery diarrhea; longer incubation -- does not match
- Lactobacillus: Not a pathogen -- does not cause foodborne illness
\[\boxed{S. aureus}\]
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