Bacteria

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B

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Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B, SEB

  • See Also
  1. Staphylococcus Aureus
  2. Bioterrorism
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Mechanism
    1. SEB is one of several staphylococcal Enterotoxins
      1. From coagulase positive staphylococci (primarily Staphylococcus Aureus)
  2. Transmission
    1. Foodborne Illness
      1. Church picnic or community events
      2. Could contaminate small volume water supply
    2. Aerosolized Biological warfare agent
      1. Incapacitating Agent
        1. Low mortality
        2. Can render >80% exposed incapacitated x1-2 weeks
  3. Symptom Onset
    1. Occurs 3-12 hours after aerosol exposure
  • Symptoms and Signs
  1. General
    1. Symptoms occur in >80% of exposed clinically ill
    2. Fever to 103 to 105 F for 2-5 days
    3. Chills
    4. Headache
    5. Myalgia
    6. Conjunctival injection
    7. Higher exposure may lead to Septic Shock, death
  2. Aerosolized exposure (Biological Weapon)
    1. Nonproductive cough for up to 4 weeks
    2. Retrosternal Chest Pain
    3. Shortness of Breath
  3. Ingestion exposure (Foodborne Illness)
    1. Nausea or Vomiting
    2. Diarrhea
  1. Normal except in severe cases
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. Respiratory pathogens
    1. Influenza
    2. Adenovirus
    3. Mycoplasma
  2. Foodborne Illness
  3. Other aerosolized toxins
    1. Pulmonary Anthrax
    2. TularemiaPneumonia
    3. Pneumonic Plague
    4. Q Fever
  • Prevention
  1. Protective mask
  2. No human Vaccine
  • Course
  1. Generally low mortality
  2. Clinical illness persists 1-2 weeks