Staphylococcal food poisoning from infected snoek

Snoek was implicated in the food poisoning of 2 people in Bloemfontein. The patients' symptoms and culture of snoek samples suggested Staphylococcus aureus as the causative agent. Enumeration of S. aureus by selective procedures gave counts of 200 000 per gram in snoek obtained from the patients and from the butchery supplying the snoek. Investigations indicated that the snoek was heavily contaminated with S. aureus before arrival at the butchery and that the organisms grew as a result of mishandling after processing.