O26

  • 2010 E. coli O26 outbreak in Oregon childcare center resulted in no severe illness

    Posted: September 18th, 2011 - 4:00pm by Doug Powell

     In the first known outbreak of Escherichia coli O26 in a U.S. child care center, neither severe illness nor a secondary household transmission was reported, according to results presented during the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

    Data on duration of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli serotype O26 shedding are limited, but shedding can be prolonged. However, the need for separation of infected children who have this apparently low-virulence infection remains uncertain, according to Mathieu Tourdjman, MD, MPH, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Oregon Health Authority.

    “The study raised more questions than it answered,” Tourdjman said during his presentation. “Child care exclusion policies vary across country. Most frequently, the policy states that children infected with O157 should be excluded until at least two consecutive stool samples are negative. Because limited data on O26 are available for O26 infection, no consensus exists on whether similar exclusion should occur.”

    The outbreak of E. coli O26 occurred in an Oregon child care center in October 2010. Children who attended the child care facility were aged in range from 6 weeks to 12 years. They were separated by age into six different classrooms.

    According to Tourdjman, infected staff and parents of infected children provided demographic and clinical information. Secondary transmission to household members was assessed by screening stool specimens for Shiga toxin using PCR. Positive isolates were isolated and serotyped. Cases in this particular outbreak were defined as laboratory-confirmed O26 infection among attendees or staff during October 2010.

    Results of the study revealed a total of 10 cases of E. coli O26: nine children (median age: 1 year) and one staff member. Patients were in three different classrooms and not clustered. Four patients reported diarrhea, including one with bloody diarrhea, but none of the patients progressed to hemolytic uremic syndrome or required hospitalization.

    The findings of the investigation also revealed that duration of shedding ranged from 12 to 46 days (median 25 days), and a lack of secondary transmission to household members.

    Tourdjman M. #L1-389. Duration of Shedding and Secondary Transmission of Shiga-Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O26 During an Outbreak in a Child Care Center:: Oregon, October 2010. Presented at: 51st ICAAC. Sept. 17-20, 2011. Chicago.

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    Daycare, e. coli, O26, Oregon, Outbreak
  • Hamburger recalled for E. coli O26 in France

    Posted: February 23rd, 2011 - 6:38pm by Doug Powell

    Carrefour, the France-based retailer, is recalling frozen hamburger patties sold under the Carrefour Discount brand in its stores.

    Albert Amgar sent along the notice and Amy translated, but I’m still struck with the unique way France has of blaming the consumer; maybe something is lost in translation.

    “As a precautionary measure and with no consumer complaints to date, Carrefour has begun a recall of a batch of ground hamburger patties sold in the frozen food section under the Carrefour Discount brand in Carrefour, Carrefour Market, Carrefour City, Carrefour Contact and Carrefour Montagne stores.

    “During regular testing undertaken by the supplier, Escherichia Coli O26 H11 bacteria were discovered. Carrefour immediately began to remove these products.

    “Carrefour recommends that clients who might still have these products in their possession do not eat them and return them to their store where they will be refunded.

    “In general, it is important to remember that thoroughly cooking hamburger patties may prevent the consequences of such a contamination, with the bacteria being killed by a temperature of 65C.”

    Good for the supplier for testing for non-O157 shiga-toxin producing E. coli. But it isn’t so easy as cooking; cross-contamination is a huge issue in the food service or home kitchen, especially with frozen patties that people may handle like Frisbees.

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    Carrefour, e. coli, food safety, France, Hamburger, O26, Stec
  • Seek and ye shall find; Cargill recalls hamburger because of E. coli O26; 3 sick in Maine and New York

    Posted: August 28th, 2010 - 4:35am by Doug Powell

    Cargill Meat Solutions Corp., a Wyalusing, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 8,500 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

    The product subject to recall includes:

    • 42-pound cases of "GROUND BEEF FINE 90/10," containing three (3) - approximately 14 pound chubs each. These products have a "use/freeze by" date of "07/01/10," and an identifying product code of "W69032."

    The products subject to recall bears the establishment number "EST. 9400" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These products were produced on June 11, 2010, and were shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut and Maryland for further distribution. It is important to note that the above listed products were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on FSIS' website at

    FSIS and the establishment are concerned that consumers may also freeze the product before use and that some product may still be in consumers' freezers. FSIS strongly encourages consumers to check their freezers and immediately discard any product subject to this recall.

    FSIS became aware of the problem on August 5, 2010 when the agency was notified by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources of an E. coli O26 cluster of illnesses. In conjunction with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, the New York State Department of Health, and New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, two (2) case-patients have been identified in Maine, as well as one (1) case-patient in New York with a rare, indistinguishable PFGE pattern as determined by PFGE subtyping in PulseNet. PulseNet is a national network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Illness onset dates range from June 24, 2010, through July 16, 2010.
     

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    Beef, Cargill, e. coli, Hamburger, Illness, O26, Sick