Meredith Porter, MD is a board-certified family physician with 23 years of clinical experience who is a lead physician for Inova Urgent Care services. Inova Urgent Care centers are open seven days a week and treat walk-in patients of all ages. Select centers offer specialized pediatric care with staff who are cross-trained in the pediatric emergency room (ER). Learn more about Inova Children’s Urgent Care services.
The holiday season is around the corner. It’s a special time to celebrate with friends, family – and lots of delicious food! As you plan the menu for your upcoming holiday gatherings, please remember to follow food safety precautions – from shopping and preparing, to cooking and eating – to prevent foodborne illnesses. The contamination of food can lead to illness, commonly known as “food poisoning,” which affects millions of Americans each year.
Often, people use the terms “food poisoning,” “stomach flu,” or “stomach bug” to describe the symptoms related to foodborne illnesses. The symptoms can happen hours, days or even weeks after eating contaminated food and include:
Any food can be contaminated along the path from farm to table. Illness can occur when food is contaminated from the environment or contact with animals. The most likely infectious causes are bacteria, viruses and parasites.
Raw contaminated foods of animal origin – such as meat, poultry and eggs – are responsible for most foodborne illness. The bacteria and viruses responsible for most illnesses, hospitalizations or deaths in the U.S. include: Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Norovirus and Salmonella.
Raw contaminated foods of animal origin – such as meat, poultry and eggs – are responsible for most foodborne illness.
Raw or undercooked fish, shellfish or seafood may cause foodborne infections, including Norovirus.
Most foodborne illnesses can be diagnosed based on symptoms and a history of food recently eaten. If the symptoms are mild and improving, looking for a cause may not be necessary. If symptoms are severe, lasting a long time or getting worse, stool testing can help find the cause of diarrheal infections and identify outbreaks.
Your doctor will order the stool culture, if needed. Local health departments may help to determine if illnesses are due to community outbreaks.
Never leave cooked foods out for more than two hours at room temperature.
Prevention is the best first step to fighting illnesses spread through food sources. Here are some prevention tips to lower your risk:
Antibiotics are not recommended for treating most foodborne infections. If you contract a foodborne illness, treating the symptoms is most important. Here are some helpful tips to consider:
Article from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Safe Handling and Food Preparation Tips
Inova Urgent Care wishes you and your family a peaceful and safe holiday season.
Inova Loudoun Hospital scores an ‘A’ for 25 consecutive grading periods Fairfax, VA, May 1,…
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of adults in…
Heather Perez Saiz, MA, LCSW, CCTSW, is the Independent Living Donor Advocate at Inova Fairfax…
Palak Shah, MD, MS Fairfax, VA — A research team at Inova Schar Heart and…
Jason Bonomo, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. Dr. Bonomo…
Update as of April 24, 2024: Inova’s structural heart team has now completed the first…