General Information

B. cereus - emetic syndrome: 1 to 5 hours; diarrhoeal syndrome: 8 to 16 hours.
B. subtilis - 10 minutes to 4 hours.
B. licheniformis - 2 to 14 hours.

Common clinical features

B. cereus - emetic syndrome: Nausea, vomiting; diarrhoeal syndrome: Diarrhoea, abdominal pain.
B. subtilis - Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
B. licheniformis - diarrhoea, abdominal pain.

Reservoir

No human or animal sources. Environment: soil, sediments, dust, vegetation. Food: cereal products, herbs and spices, dried foods, milk and dairy products, meat and meat products.

Transmission

Contaminated cooked foods subjected to inadequate post-cooking temperature control during cooling and storage.

B. cereus: mainly rice dishes; occasionally pasta, meat or vegetable dishes, dairy products, soups, sauces, sweet pastry products.

B. subtilis group: mainly meat or vegetable with pastry products, cooked meat or poultry products; occasionally bakery products, including bread, crumpets, sandwiches, and ethnic meat or seafood dishes.