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E. COLI 0157:H7
E.Coli 0157:H7
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It is one of the hundreds of
strains of the bacterium
Escherichia coli
This strain produces a powerful
toxin and can cause severe
illness
First recognized as a cause of
an illness in 1982
Most infections have come
from the consumption of
uncooked meat
E.Coli 0157:H7
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The combination of letters and numbers in the name
of the bacterium represent the specific markers
found on its surface.
An emerging cause of foodborne illness with an
estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths
in the United States alone each year!
E.Coli 0157:H7
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Mode of Transmission: Ingestion of contaminated
food
Infection control: No special isolation precautions
required
Incubation period: 3-8 days
How Is It Spread?
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Found on a small number of cattle farms in the
intestines of healthy cattle
Meat CAN be contaminated during slaughter and
can be mixed in particularly with ground beef.
Bacteria is present on the cow’s udders or on
equipment and therefore could possibly get into
raw milk as well.
How Is It Spread?
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Eating meat, particularly ground beef,that has not
been sufficiently cooked can cause infection.
Other sources of consumption: sprouts, lettuce,
salami, unpateurized milk and juice, and swimming
in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.
How Is It Spread?
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Bacteria in diarrheal stools of infected persons can
be passed from one person to another.
KEEP HYGIENE HABITS!
Pay particular attention to toddlers who aren’t yet
toilet trained.
Young children can shed organism in their feces for
a week after illness resolves.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
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CDC collects information
about foodborne illness
outbreaks from state
and local health
departments.
Claims that 250 million
Americans suffer from
food poisoning and over
5000 victims die every
year!
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Most of the outbreaks
are caused by food
handling errors
Managers should
implement the most
effective food sanitation
possible
70% outbreaks occur in
foodservice operations
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
What illness does 0157:H7 Cause?
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Often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps
(Hemorrhagic colitis)
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Usually little or not fever is present
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Illness resolves in five to ten days
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With children under 5 yrs. & elderly, it can cause a complication
called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
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2%-7% have this complication.
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Principal cause of acute kidney failure in children.
Prevention
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Cook all beef thoroughly,
particularly ground beef
Beef can turn brown
before disease-causing
bacteria all killed
Use a digital instant-read
thermometer
Prevention
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In the kitchen, keep raw meat separate from ready-toeat foods
Wash hands, counters, and utensils with soapy water
after they touch raw meat.
Never place cooked hamburgers or ground beef on the
unwashed plate that held raw patties.
Wash meat thermometers in between tests of patties
that require further testing.
Prevention
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Drink only pasteurized milk or juice.
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Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly
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Have municipal water treated with chlorine or other
disinfectants
Avoid swallowing lake or pool water while swimming
Wash hands with soap after bowel movements or after
changing soiled diapers.
Thawing Meat
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Thaw foods in refrigerator units under water of 70
F or lower
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Or in the microwave oven
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Thaw ready-to-eat foods above raw
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Large items should not be cooked from frozen state
Outbreaks
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Scottish outbreak--linked to
butcher shop; 116 people
reported with symptoms; 4
people died
Odwalla fruit juices-- had to
recall on carrots and
vegetable juices; victims were
children; apples were
contaminated through feces of
cattle grazing in nearby
pasture
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Georgia Water Park--10
children were affected and 1
died; link to child defecating
in children’s wading pool
Japan Outbreak-- 9 people
died in 4 week time span;
bacteria infected over 9000
people; 5000 of which were
school children