1. A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection linked to consumption of beef tacos at a fast-food restaurant chain.
- Author
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Jay MT, Garrett V, Mohle-Boetani JC, Barros M, Farrar JA, Rios R, Abbott S, Sowadsky R, Komatsu K, Mandrell R, Sobel J, and Werner SB
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Arizona epidemiology, California epidemiology, Case-Control Studies, Child, Child, Preschool, Escherichia coli Infections microbiology, Female, Foodborne Diseases, Humans, Male, Meat microbiology, Middle Aged, Nevada epidemiology, Restaurants, Disease Outbreaks, Escherichia coli Infections epidemiology, Escherichia coli O157, Food Microbiology
- Abstract
We investigated a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. Isolates from 13 case patients from California, Nevada, and Arizona were matched by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis subtyping. Five case patients (38%) were hospitalized, and 3 (23%) developed hemolytic uremic syndrome; none died. The median age was 12 years (range, 2-75 years), and 10 (77%) were female. Case-control studies found an association between illness and eating beef tacos at a national Mexican-style fast-food restaurant chain (88% of cases versus 38% of controls; matched OR, undefined; 95% confidence interval, 1.49 to infinity; P=.009). A trace-back investigation implicated an upstream supplier of beef, but a farm investigation was not possible. This outbreak illustrates the value of employing hospital laboratory-based surveillance to detect local clusters of infections and the effectiveness of using molecular subtyping to identify geographically dispersed outbreaks. The outbreak investigation also highlights the need for a more efficient tracking system for food products.
- Published
- 2004
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