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E. coli is a bacterium that commonly found in the lower intestines of warm blooded organisms, and while many strains are harmless, a few are capable of causing serious illness in humans.
Pathogenic strains of E. coli can cause such diverse disease processes as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, septicemia and on rare occasions hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), which can damage kidney function and has about a 10% mortality rate.
Over the years we’ve seen a number of food recalls due to suspected (or confirmed) E. coli contamination, most often associated with meat, but sometimes involving produce and processed foods, and even raw cookie dough.
From Foodsafety.gov we get this description of E. coli.
E. coli is the name of a type of bacteria that lives in your intestines. Although most types of E. coli are harmless, some types can make you sick. The worst type of E. coli, known as E. coli O157:H7, causes bloody diarrhea and can sometimes cause kidney failure and even death.
Sources
Undercooked beef especially hamburger, unpasteurized milk and juice, raw fruits and vegetables (such as sprouts), soft cheeses made from raw milk, feces of infected people, and contaminated water.
Incubation Period
1-8 days
Symptoms
Severe diarrhea that is often bloody, abdominal pain and vomiting. Usually, little or no fever is present.
Duration of Illness
5-10 days
What Do I Do?
Drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or if your symptoms are severe, call your doctor. Antibiotics should not be used to treat this infection.
Today we’ve news of another multi-state recall, this time of lettuce that may be contaminated with E. coli. This from the CDC:
Investigation Announcement: Multistate Outbreak of Human E. coli O145 Infections Linked to Shredded Romaine Lettuce from a Single Processing Facility
Updated May 6, 2010
Confirmed cases of E. coli O145 Infection, United States, by state
Infections with the outbreak strain of E. coli O145, by date of illness onset (n=19 for whom information was reported as of January 4, 2010)
Local and state public health officials in Michigan, New York, and Ohio are investigating human illnesses caused by E. coli O145. CDC is supporting these investigations and facilitating regular communication and information sharing between the states and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
As of May 5, 2010, a total of 19 confirmed and 10 probable cases related to this outbreak have been reported from 3 states since March 1, 2010. The number of ill persons identified in each state with this strain is strain is: MI (10 confirmed and 3 probable), NY (2 confirmed and 5 probable), and OH (7 confirmed and 2 probable).
Among the confirmed and probable cases with reported dates available, illnesses began between April 10, 2010 and April 26, 2010. Infected individuals range in age from 13 years old to 29 years old and the median age is 19 years. Sixty-nine percent of patients are male. Among the 29 patients with available information, 12 (41%) were hospitalized. Three patients have developed a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS. No deaths have been reported.
The outbreak can be visually described with a chart showing the number of persons who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve. Of note, it takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks from the time a person becomes ill to the time when the illness is confirmed by laboratory testing and reported. Please see the E. coli Outbreak Investigations: Timeline for Reporting Cases for more details.
The bacteria responsible for this outbreak are referred to as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. STECs have been associated with human illness, including bloody diarrhea and a potentially fatal kidney condition called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC bacteria are grouped by serotypes (e.g., O157 or O145). The STEC serotype found most commonly in U.S. patients is E. coli O157. Other E. coli serotypes in the STEC group, including O145, are sometimes called “non-O157 STECs.” Currently, there are limited public health surveillance data on the occurrence of non-O157 STECs, including E. coli O145, therefore E.coli O145 may go unreported. Because it is more difficult to identify than E. coli O157, many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC infection.
You’ll find an FDA announcement on this recall at:
And more information on E. coli at the CDC’s E. coli information page:
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