A multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection linked to consumption of beef tacos at a fast-food restaurant chain

Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Jul 1;39(1):1-7. doi: 10.1086/421088. Epub 2004 Jun 11.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arizona / epidemiology
  • California / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli O157*
  • Female
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Foodborne Diseases
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meat / microbiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nevada / epidemiology
  • Restaurants