Several patients were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning after eating Tram Anh chicken rice (Khanh Hoa), stool culture results of 2 children tested positive for Salmonella bacteria - Photo: THANH CHUONG
Recently, a series of diners were poisoned after eating at Tram Anh chicken rice restaurant in Nha Trang city (Khanh Hoa). The number of patients being treated at hospitals is now over 200.
At Vinmec Nha Trang Hospital, the stool culture results of 2 children (5 years old, living in Hanoi) after eating Tram Anh chicken rice were positive for Salmonella bacteria.
The leader of Khanh Hoa Province's Department of Health said that rapid stool transplantation at the hospital is only the first step in the direction of treating gastrointestinal infections, and the antibiotic regimen will focus on sterilizing Salmonella.
However, the cause of poisoning has not yet been confirmed.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety said Salmonella is a type of intestinal bacteria that does not form spores, is resistant to external conditions, and is destroyed during sterilization or cooking.
However, Salmonella can survive for a long time in dry, refrigerated foods...
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Salmonella bacteria are found in many foods, including: chicken, turkey, beef, pork, eggs, fruits, sprouts, other vegetables and even processed foods, such as nut butters, frozen baked goods...
Salmonella infection causes stomach and intestinal discomfort; the patient may have fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, which can be confused with common stomach aches.
There are many causes of infection, it can be due to polluted environment, microorganisms from soil, water, air, tools and other objects contaminating food.
In addition, it is possible that due to lack of hygiene during processing, personal hygiene is not guaranteed to cause bacteria to contaminate food.
Or due to the food itself, bacteria can stick to poultry meat during slaughter, seafood can be transmitted from polluted water environments.
Also, unpasteurized milk and milk products can be contaminated with Salmonella. Pasteurization, on the other hand, can eliminate harmful bacteria, including Salmonella.
Fruits and vegetables, especially imported varieties, can become contaminated with Salmonella during the growing or cleaning process with water.
Raw or undercooked eggs, although the shell protects the inside from contamination, infected birds can still lay eggs containing Salmonella bacteria (which are present before the shell is formed). This is the source of infection when eaten by humans.
What can I do to prevent Salmonella infection?
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety recommends that people should choose fresh food, vegetables and fruits that are eaten raw must be soaked and washed thoroughly with clean water. Fruits should be washed and peeled before eating.
In particular, cooking food thoroughly will kill bacteria and eating it immediately after cooking, because if left for too long, food can easily become contaminated with bacteria that are harmful to health.
Also, to keep food for more than 5 hours, it must be kept continuously hot above 60° C or cold below 10°C. Food for young children should not be reused.
Cooked foods that are not used for more than 5 hours must be thoroughly reheated. Cooked foods can become contaminated through direct contact with raw foods or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces.
In addition, it is necessary to cover and keep food in sealed containers, glass cabinets, cages, etc., which is the best way to protect it.
"When food poisoning is detected or suspected, it is necessary to immediately stop using and seal all the food (including vomit, feces, urine, etc.) to verify and immediately notify the nearest medical facility for timely treatment or take the poisoned person to the hospital," the Department of Food Safety emphasized.
What are the signs of child poisoning?
Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy - deputy head of the digestive department, Children's Hospital 2 - said that children get food poisoning when they eat or drink food that is contaminated or has chemical residue.
Symptoms of food poisoning are varied, the most common are digestive symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever... or other organs such as liver, kidney, nervous system, cardiovascular system... Depending on the type of poisoning, symptoms can appear immediately after eating or after a few hours to 1-2 days.
If the child only vomits and has diarrhea 1-2 times, has no other symptoms, and continues to live and eat normally, parents can monitor themselves, divide meals into smaller portions, drink more water, and not use substances that cause vomiting on their own.
If the child vomits a lot, cannot eat or drink, has bloody stools, or has other signs such as high fever that is difficult to reduce, convulsions, lethargy, or fatigue, parents should take the child to the hospital for timely examination.
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