AJ, a 20-year-old college student, ate five-day-old pasta and developed severe food poisoning that led to liver failure. Despite initial suspicions of alcohol or drug overdose, tests revealed hypoglycemia and liver damage. The cause was eventually linked to a toxin called Surreal Light, produced by the bacteria Bacillus cereus, which was found in the spoiled pasta. The toxin disrupted the liver's ability to produce ATP, leading to a buildup of fat and liver failure. The situation was exacerbated by AJ's ingestion of bismuth subsalicylate, a stomach medicine that contains aspirin, which also disrupted ATP production. The combination of the toxin and the aspirin overdose resulted in a dual blockade of ATP synthesis, leading to acute liver failure. Unfortunately, AJ's condition was too severe, and he did not survive. The case highlights the importance of food safety and the potential risks of eating spoiled food.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. AJ, a 20-year-old college student, ate five-day-old pasta and fell ill.
2. He experienced abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diffuse bleeding.
3. AJ's liver shut down, and he was taken to the emergency room.
4. He was an otherwise healthy individual who wasn't taking any medicines.
5. AJ's skin and the whites of his eyes turned a sickly greenish-yellow color.
6. A blood test found no evidence of alcohol or drug use.
7. AJ had hypoglycemia, meaning low blood sugar.
8. His liver enzymes were elevated, indicating liver damage.
9. AJ's kidneys were failing, and he had blood in his urine.
10. He was diagnosed with fulminant liver failure.
11. A liver transplant was not available, and AJ's chances of survival were minimal.
12. An autopsy revealed diffuse microvesicular steatosis in his liver.
13. The bacteria Bacillus cereus was identified as the cause of his food poisoning.
14. A second agent, a protein called cereulide, was found in AJ's system.
15. Cereulide is an ionophore that can cause mitochondrial damage and liver failure.
16. AJ had taken stomach medicine containing bismuth subsalicylate, which is a salicylate and can also cause liver failure.
17. The combination of cereulide and salicylate poisoning led to AJ's acute liver failure.
18. This case is not typical of food poisoning and has been reported in literature.
19. Fulminant hepatic failure can occur suddenly and be fatal within hours.