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A christening party outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with Escherichia coli O 157. H7

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. L. Salmon*
Affiliation:
West Midlands Regional Health Authority, Birmingham B16 9PA
I. D. Farrell
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, East Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham B9 5ST
J. G. P. Hutchison
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, East Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham B9 5ST
D. J. Coleman
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, East Birmingham Hospital, Birmingham B9 5ST
R. J. Gross
Affiliation:
Division of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT
N. K. Fry
Affiliation:
Division of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT
B. Rowe
Affiliation:
Division of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, London NW9 5HT
S. R. Palmer
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, PHLS, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
*
*R. L. Salmon, Herefordshire Health Authority, Victoria House, Eign Street, Hereford HR4 0AN.
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Summary

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A point source outbreak of haemorrhagic colitis due to Escherichia coli O 157. H7 producing verocytotoxin (VT), took place following a christening party in Birmingham in June 1987. Twenty-six people were affected, six were admitted to hospital and one developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome: there were no deaths. VT + E. coli O 157. H7 was isolated from 13 (57%) of 23 faecal specimens from affected people and from 3 (9%) of 33 specimens from asymptomatic people. Free VT was detected in the faeces of one further asymptomatic person. Illness was associated with eating turkey-roll sandwiches (P < 0·001) suggesting that cold meats might be an important source of infection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

References

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