1. Javier Chavez Cathy Miller Meridith Phillips Patty Roth
Escherichia coli O157:H7
Javier Chavez
Cathy Miller
Meridith Phillips
Patty Roth
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2. Introduction What is E. coli? Vocabulary How is it spread?
What are the symptoms?
Who does it affect?
What is the treatment?
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3. What is E. coli?
Esherichia coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Eshcherichia coli.
Most strains live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin, veritoxin, which can cause severe illness and death.
“O” represents the surface somatic polysaccharide antigen used for typing
“H” refers to the flagella atogen
157:H7 is singled out as the most likely to cause HUS and death
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4. Vocabulary
Infectious dose- how many bacteria are necessary to infect and organism
Attack rate- the number of individuals exposed to and infectious dose who contract the disease
Sequelae- the outcome of the infection
Transmissible- food born diseases are transmissible by the fecal-oral route.
Variability- there is variability in the organism and the host.
Food matrix- the human intestinal system lives in permanent association with many types of microorganisms. The diet of the host, physiological state and genetics of the host affects the microorganisms
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5. Background First identified in 1982
Jack in the Box food chain outbreak had 500 laboratory-confirmed infections or deaths
1996 Odwalla juice outbreak illness affected 45 people
1996, 3000 cases linked to radish sprouts in school lunch program
2000, 2300 became ill, 7 deaths from water contaminated with E. coli from flooding
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6. 5 Year Trends in Colorado
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a Shiga toxin producing bacterium that can cause illness ranging from mild intestinal illness to severe kidney complications. Other Shiga toxin producing serotypes (e.g. O111 and O26) are also in the family of enterohemorrhagic E. coli and can cause similar disease.
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7. How is it spread?
The organism can be found in the intestines of healthy cattle. The meat can be contaminated during slaughter.
Can be mixed into beef when it its ground into hamburger.
Bacteria on cows udders or on equipment can get into raw milk
It can contaminate fruits and vegetables from contact with manure used as fertilizer
Drinking water contaminated with sewage can carry the bacteria
The infectious dose is usually under 100 organisms
Can be spread by person to person contact
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8. Who does it affect?
E. coli O157:H7 generally affects the young (including teens) and the elderly
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9. What are the symptoms? Diarrhea and malaise
Hemorrhagic colitis(HC) or bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps
Lasts for 5-10 days usually
Infection may proceed to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a severe cytopathic attack on the kidneys requiring intensive care and dialysis. Red blood cells are destroyed requiring blood tranfusion
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10. Treatment
Most persons recover without antibiotics or specific treatment in 5-10 days.
Some antibiotic treatments cause kidney complications
Antidiarrheal agents should be avoided
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11. Prevention Cook all beef thoroughly (with no pink in center)
Avoid eating undercooked meat at restaurants (send it back)
Keep cooking area clean, wash your hands with hot soapy water
Keep raw meat away from read-to eat foods
Drink pasteurized milk and juices
Wash fruits and vegetables
Avoid swallowing lake or swimming pools water
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12. References Center for Disease Control, June 2001
(Search under “What is Escherichia coli O157:H7”)
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