Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 gastroenteritis in farm visitors, North Wales.
An outbreak of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) gastroenteritis in visitors to an open farm in North Wales resulted in 17 primary and 7 secondary cases of illness. E. coli O157 Vero cytotoxin type 2, phage type 2 was isolated from 23 human cases and environmental animal fecal samples. A case-control study of 16 primary case-patients and 36 controls (all children) showed a significant association with attendance on the 2nd day of a festival, eating ice cream or cotton candy (candy floss), and contact with cows or goats. On multivariable analysis, only the association between illness and ice cream (odds ratio [OR]=11.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 137.76) and cotton candy (OR=51.90, 95% CI 2.77 to 970.67) remained significant. In addition to supervised handwashing, we recommend that foods on open farms only be eaten in dedicated clean areas and that sticky foods be discouraged.
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Wales), Cardiff, Wales. chris_payne@btinternet.com
Christopher J I
CJ
Payne
Marko
M
Petrovic
Richard J
RJ
Roberts
Ashish
A
Paul
Eithne
E
Linnane
Mark
M
Walker
David
D
Kirby
Anthony
A
Burgess
Robert M M
RM
Smith
Thomas
T
Cheasty
Geraldine
G
Willshaw
Roland L
RL
Salmon
D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
D022603:Shiga Toxins