Staphylococcal enterotoxin B-specific electrochemiluminescence and lateral flow device assays cross-react with...

Guam school children and faculty members experienced symptoms of vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea shortly after eating breakfast prepared by contracted caterers. The first illness was reported within an hour after breakfast, affecting 295 students and two faculty members. Local hospitals treated 130 people, and 61 were admitted for further treatment. Reported symptoms were consistent with staphylococcal food poisoning. Initial food testing using a lateral flow device and electrochemiluminescence method incorrectly implicated staphylococcal enterotoxin B as the causative agent, prompting partial activation of Guam's Emergency Response Center. Traditional ELISAs proved that the food poisoning agent was staphylococcal enterotoxin D. More specific and sensitive assays would have alleviated the issues and confusion that surrounded the reporting and investigation of this outbreak.