A large Escherichia coli O157 outbreak in Sweden associated with locally produced lettuce.

• In 2005 a large outbreak of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) occurred in Sweden. Cases were interviewed and cohort and case-control studies were conducted. Microbiological investigations were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the Shiga-like toxin (Stx) genes followed by cultivation and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. A total of 135 cases were recorded, including 11 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome. The epidemiological investigations implicated lettuce as the most likely source of the outbreak, with an OR of 13.0 (CI 2.94-57.5) in the case-control study. The lettuce was irrigated by water from a small stream, and water samples were positive for Stx 2 by PCR. The identical VTEC O157 Stx 2 positive strain was isolated from the cases and in cattle at a farm upstream from the irrigation point. An active surveillance and reporting system was crucial and cooperation between all involved parties was essential for quickly identifying the cause of this outbreak. Handling of fresh greens from farm to table must be improved to minimize the risk of contamination.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Aged

80 and over

Case-Control Studies

Child

Child

Preschool

Cohort Studies

Disease Outbreaks

Escherichia coli Infections

epidemiology

Escherichia coli O157

isolation & purification

pathogenicity

Female

Food Contamination

analysis

Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome

epidemiology

Humans

Infant

Infant

Newborn

Lettuce

microbiology

Male

Middle Aged

Sweden

epidemiology

Young Adult

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)