Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) Practice Exam

Why does Staphylococcus aureus not present fever as a symptom?

1. Because it causes diarrhea

2. It is an intoxication, not an infection

3. It only affects children

4. It is not a foodborne illness

The correct answer is: It is an intoxication, not an infection

Staphylococcus aureus is associated with foodborne illness primarily through the production of enterotoxins, which cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. This type of illness is considered an intoxication rather than an infection because the symptoms arise from the ingestion of preformed toxins rather than from the bacteria multiplying within the host. In the case of an infection, it’s common for the body to respond with systemic symptoms, including fever, as part of the immune response to the invading pathogen. However, since Staphylococcus aureus specifically causes illness due to these toxins, the body's typical immune response leading to fever does not occur. Therefore, the absence of fever in patients affected by Staphylococcus aureus reflects the nature of the illness as an intoxication rather than an infectious disease.