A group of friends had a party together, After 4 hours, few of them had diarrhoea and vomiting. Organism responsible for food poisoning is :
**Core Concept**
Food poisoning due to bacterial ingestion can manifest as gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The most common bacteria responsible for foodborne illnesses are those that produce toxins, causing rapid onset of symptoms.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The organism responsible for food poisoning in this scenario is likely *Staphylococcus aureus*. This bacterium produces an enterotoxin that causes rapid onset of symptoms, typically within 1-6 hours after ingestion. The enterotoxin acts by binding to the intestinal mucosa, leading to increased permeability, fluid secretion, and ultimately, diarrhea and vomiting.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
* **Option A:** *Salmonella* species are also common causes of food poisoning, but they typically cause symptoms within 6-48 hours after ingestion, which is longer than the timeframe described.
* **Option B:** *Escherichia coli* (E. coli) is another bacteria that can cause food poisoning, but it usually causes symptoms within 1-10 days after ingestion, which is beyond the timeframe in this question.
* **Option D:** *Clostridium perfringens* is a common cause of food poisoning, but it typically causes symptoms within 8-22 hours after ingestion, which is longer than the timeframe described.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The rapid onset of symptoms in food poisoning, such as diarrhea and vomiting, is often indicative of a bacterial cause, particularly *Staphylococcus aureus*. This is because bacterial toxins can act quickly to cause intestinal damage and fluid secretion.
**Correct Answer: B. Salmonella species.**