Definition:

Bacillus cereus is a gram-positive aerobic-to-facultatively anaerobic bacterium that causes gastrointestinal infections. The organism produces an emetic or diarrheal syndrome induced by an emetic toxin and enterotoxin, respectively. The emetic type infections are frequently associated with the consumption of rice-based dishes, while the diarrheal type is transmitted mostly by milk products, vegetables, and meat. B. cereus is also recognized as an infrequent cause of local and systemic nongastrointestinal infections.