Colorado Prison Food Poisoning Associated with E. Coli O111
An E. coli outbreak among inmates at a Canon City, Colorado prison has sickened three and eight more may also have become infected, according to local news reports. The suspected pathogen is E. coli O111, which is a lesser-known strain of E. coli but can be just as deadly as its better-known counterpart, E. coli O157:H7.
The outbreak at Four Mile Prison minimum-security facility was discovered Thursday. The three inmates who’ve become ill are being treated in the prison infirmary and if their condition worsens, they’ll be transported to the infirmary at Canon City’s Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility.
Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti announced the source of the outbreak is still under investigation, but inspections of the prison kitchens show no immediate health or sanitation problems.
E. coli bacteria are often found in the fecal manner of animals such as cattle, and this can easily contaminate facilities where livestock is kept. The prison does operate a small dairy, however, the Colorado DOC has said none of the inmates who’ve gotten sick worked at the dairy. The Colorado DOC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are continuing their investigations of the prison facilities to determine the outbreak source and prevent it from spreading.
E. coli O111 Information
The “E. coli” most are familiar with is a strain called E. coli O157:H7. This is the only strain of E. coli that is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, even though it is not the only harmful strain of the pathogen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified six other strains of E. coli that are associated with serious illness and even death. They are:
- E. coli O26
- E. coli O111
- E. coli O103
- E. coli O121
- E. coli O45
- E. coli O145
These strains of E. coli produce a harmful toxin called shiga toxin, which is what causes the serious symptoms associated with this pathogen. These can include kidney failure, strokes and damage to the heart and neuro systems. Serious illnesses can also arise from a shiga-toxin producing E. coli strain, including hemolytic uremic syndrome, or E. coli HUS , and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP).
