Foodborne IllnessQuestion 33 of 320
An intoxication (like Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning) differs from an infection because:
a.It requires the bacteria to keep multiplying in the body
b.It cannot be prevented by good hygiene
c.It is only caused by viruses
d.The illness is caused by a toxin already present in the food, so symptoms come on quickly
Explanation
In an intoxication, the person eats a toxin already produced in the food (for example by Staphylococcus aureus, often introduced by bare-hand contact), so symptoms appear quickly, sometimes within hours. An infection requires living pathogens to multiply in the body, with a slower onset. Good hygiene, especially handwashing and no bare-hand contact, helps prevent Staph intoxication.
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