Food poisoning in emergency units [Acil tedavi birimlerinde gıda zehirlenmeleri]

Physicians and allied health personnel are very frequently faced with food poisoning in emergency units. Primarily, a correct diagnosis is important for the success of treatment for a patient with suspected food poisoning who comes or is brought to an emergency unit. For this, taking a detailed history from the patient and taking necessary clinical samples (blood, feces, vomit, etc.) to be sent to the laboratory for a diagnosis as soon as possible are priorities. Before or during the treatment judicial authorities must be informed of the food poisoning incident. If the physicians and other health care personnel in the emergency units have enough theoretical and practical knowledge about food poisoning and microbiological risks, and have developed their knowledge and skills by various educational activities, poisoning cases can be controlled and repetition can be avoided. Also contributions can be made to the solution of forensic cases. In this study, the aim is to inform the health care employees in emergency services primarily but also other health care employees about pathogenic bacteria that may cause food poisoning; to provide general advice about approaches to food poisoning cases and to raise the consciousness about the obligation of informing forensic authorities of incidents of food poisoning. © 2014, Marmara University. All rights reserved.