Canadian E. coli Outbreak Associated With Festival
At least 26 people have fallen sick from a suspected E. coli outbreak in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Canadian health officials have associated the majority of cases with food eaten at the Russsian pavilion of the annual Folklorama multicultural festivals, CBC News-Radio Canada reports. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority issued a warning last week after 15 suspected cases had surfaced since the beginning of August.
Of those who have become sick, 14 have been confirmed to have E. coli, including two children who are still recovering in hospital, according to the CBC report. Folklorama ended August 14, but there is a risk of secondary infection. Once someone has eaten contaminated food, the infection can be passed person to person, by hand-to-mouth contact.
Ohio State Researchers Connect E. coli to Swimmers
New research released by The Ohio State University reported that there is a direct link with high E.coli levels and swimmers becoming ill. 
The report also states that testing for E.coli can take up to 18 hours and that swimming advisories are usually posted a day late.
Mary Clifton with the Ohio Department of Health told NBC4-TV in Columbus, Ohio, that there is a push to get more rapid testing. The problem is that there is not an improved standard test yet to do rapid testing. The Ohio State research report said that better methods need to be in place to protect lakes from being contaminated in the first place. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria grow in the guts of cattle and other animals. The animals shed the pathogen in their feces and it can be washed into waterways during rains.
Valley Meat Co. E.coli Recall Retail List Posted
The Valley Meat Company E. coli recall distribution list has been posted by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). On August 6, the Modesto, California company recalled about one million pounds of ground beef that could potentially be contaminated with E. coli. The recall came after an E. coli outbreak in which seven people became sick. Federal health officials began investigating the cluster of illnesses after the California Department of Public Health notified them that the E. coli O157:H7 cases matched the same PFGE pattern, or “genetic fingerprint.”
Valley Meat Company E. coli Recall Retail Distribution List
Meat was recalled from stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Texas, Nevada, Washington and Oregon. The Recalled products were manufactured from Oct. 2009-Jan. 2010. The establishment number on the recalled frozen beef products is EST. 8268 and the production codes are 25709 through 01210.
Times Super Market
King Market
Oak Creek Market, Inc.
Four Corners Market
Anza Village Market
Big Trees Market
Spencers Fresh Market
Ponderosa Market
Banning Village Market
Rio Ranch Market
My T Fine Foods
Ben Lomand Market
Andronico’s Markets, Inc.
Manor Market Inc
Boron Food Mart, Inc.
Dinsmor Store
Mollie Stones
Mike’s Discount Food Market
P W Supermarket Inc.
Page’s Market
Al Mancasola’s Grocery Markets
Farmers Fresco Supermarket
Foods Etc.
Oaks Red and White
Colfax Sierra Market
Solano Market
The Original Irvine Ranch Market
Best Deal Food Company Inc.
Del Sol Market
El Sol Market
Erickson Supermarket
Fairway Stores
IGA
J. Solanki Meat
McKays
Mi Pueblo San Jose Inc.
Safeway
Select Markets
Super A Foods, Inc.
Super Center Concepts, Inc
Ukas Big Saver Foods
Vons
Buy-Low Market
Glazier’s Food Marketplace
Mariana’s
The Sierra Nevada Trading Company
PC Hometown Market
Two Boys Grocery
Hometown Foods Drain
Red Apple
Halsey Select Market
Jefferson Hometown Market
Stewarts Market
Martins Food Center
Mill City Market Place
Mohler Co-Op
Steve’s Market
Food 4 Less
Price Slasher
Mt Hood Foods
Jack’s Family Market
Ken & Sons Select
Shady Cove Market
Sheridan Select
Noels Market Inc
Stanfield Main St Market
Thriftway
Sentry
Main Street Market
Auburn’s Main Street Market
Matthew’s Thriftway
Ralph’s Red Apple Market
Andy’s Market
Plaza Market
Holcomb’s Market
Bridle Trails Red Apple
Cascade Mercantile
Food Emporium
Pay-Less Supermarkets
Drug-Resistant E. coli Strain Emerging, Research Shows
A new strain of drug-resistant E. coli poses an emerging health concern, according to a study to be published this week in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases, led by Dr. James Johnson of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Cases of this strain, E. coli ST131, have been reported across the United States and in several countries, researchers say.
During 2007, researchers tested 127 patients infected with E. coli that appeared resistant to cephalosporin and fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Of those cases, 54 were shown to be from this new strain, E. coli ST131.
“If this strain gains one additional resistance gene, it will become almost untreatable and will be a true superbug, which is a very concerning scenario,” Johnson said. he went on to tell local news sources that, “Fortunately, there’s still one big class of drugs that [E. coli ST131 is] so far universally susceptible to,” but that those drugs are “our last line of defense.”
More research into new antibiotics, plus exercising caution when using antibiotics, are two key elements needed to address this concern, according to health experts.
Sources:
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/99668604.html?page=2&c=y
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38495130/ns/health-infectious_diseases/
E. coli, Shigella and Salmonella Infections: How They Spread
The strains of E. coli, Shigella and Salmonella that cause illness in humans are what are called enteropathogenic bacteria. Pathogenic meaning they cause harmful infectious diseases and enteric refers to the fact that the infections they cause are in the intestine.
The enteric infections caused by these pathogens are dependent on whether the bacteria are able to colonize in the intestine. Research from a Brazilian university is helping to better understand the variety of “strategies” these pathogens use to multiply inside their hosts and infect them. According to the research:
“Diarrhea-causing pathogens employ a variety of sophisticated strategies to colonize the intestinal epithelium [tissue lining the intestine].” In essence, ingested pathogens have evolved the abilities to:
- Resist many of the host’s defenses such as stomach acidity, peristalsis, mucosal cell exfoliation, intestinal mucins, and bacteriocins
- Adhere to intestinal epithelia (tissue).
- Ultimately colonize that tissue.
Sometimes that colonization involves cellular invasion. When that happens, the bacteria can spread to other tissues in the host’s body. According to the research, the pathogens attack cells in the host’s body. “The host cell, in turn, defends itself against infection by initiating an inflammatory response and by altering the intestinal fluid balance in order to extrude the unwanted bacteria, thus causing diarrhea.” Therefore, whether the infection is “successful” depends upon complex interactions between the bacteria and the host cells. The bacteria’s mission, basically, is to exploit cell machinery for their own benefit.
Source:
http://www.gutpathogens.com/content/2/1/8
