Indian Journal of Hospital Infection

Foodborne infections are becoming increasingly common nowadays due to increased urbanization and other factors. One of the major microorganisms causing foodborne infections is Staphylococcus aureus. It is a Gram positive pathogen causing a plethora of infections in man, but can also act as commensal. It is also a common commensal microorganism of skin and external nose in man in about 20-50% cases. Staphylococci are truly ubiquitous in the environment and their existence can be traced in the air, dust, sewage, water, various environmental surfaces, humans and animals. It enters the food chain via street food or unclean hands. The heat stable enterotoxin is responsible for food poisoning due to Staphylococcus aureus. Manifestations of food poisoning due to Staphylococci are vomiting and diarrhoea. Specimens or diagnosis include food and stool but colony count is important. Studying these aspects forms a very important component of public health. This review presents available information regarding this bacterial pathogen in causing food poisoning cases.

Remote sensing has transformed environmental monitoring, agriculture, urban planning, and more recently, the health sciences. In medical microbiology and vector studies, it offers a powerful means of tracking environmental conditions that influence the spread of infectious diseases. By integrating satellite data, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and ecological modelling, scientists can predict outbreaks, identify risk zones, and enhance disease control strategies. This article delves into the principles of remote sensing and explores its specific applications in medical microbiology and the study of disease vectors.

Food poses a grave risk of infections. Microbial hazards pose a significant risk of contaminating food. Listeria monocytogenes is a smart pathogen among all microbes contaminating food. It is a Gram positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-sporulating rod that can survive well even at lower temperatures. It also possesses several important virulence factors or determinants like Listeriolysin and the ability to withstand lower temperatures. It can be detected by many important tests that may be conventional or molecular. Treatment has to be instituted by Ampicillin or other new drugs like Gentamicin. Proper awareness needs to be generated amongst the masses to manage foodborne listeriosis in a proper manner. These things have been discussed in this chapter.