title: Escherichia coli O157:H7--Discerning Facts from Fiction: An Integrated Research and Extension Project for Multiple Audiences.
abstract: The O157:H7 (EcO157) epidemiology of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in cattle is complex, and myths about pre-harvest control are perpetuated. The objectives of this project were to identify perpetuated misinformation and inform four audiences about evidence-based risks and pre-harvest control of EcO157 by addressing: (i) EcO157 epidemiology and pre-harvest control; (ii) how food safety policy is created; and (iii) how to present accurate information about EcO157. An environmental scan using a daily Internet search helped identify themes for education. A literature review of pre-harvest control measures contributed to the development of educational materials (fact sheets, website, web presentations and conferences). Conference 1 was a webinar with 315 registrants, 10 countries including 41 US states and four Canadian provinces. Most participants felt confident in using their new knowledge, more than half felt confident enough to answer EcO157 questions from the public and many would recommend the recorded version of the webinar to colleagues. Conference 2 was live in the Washington, DC, area with most participants employed by the US government. All agreed that they better understood pre-harvest control, how food safety policy was made, and were confident they could create an effective message about STEC pre-harvest control. Videos were posted and received 348 Internet visitors within 2 months. Conference 3 was a webinar with a live audience and Twitter feeds, targeting people who give nutrition advice. Almost all ranked the programme good to excellent and relevant to their work. About 25% indicated that they would share: 'grass-fed beef is not safer than grain-fed', 25% would share information on effectiveness of cattle vaccines, and 14% would share information on message mapping. Across all conferences, major changes in knowledge included the following: there is no additional risk of EcO157 shedding from grain-fed versus grass-fed cattle, pre-harvest vaccination is efficacious, and production systems (pasture versus confinement) do not affect EcO157 shedding rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sischo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Besser
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D057138:Bacterial Shedding; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle; D003226:Congresses as Topic; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D015397:Program Evaluation; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli; D014481:United States
keywords: Escherichia coli; Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli; cattle; education; extension; pre-harvest