Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Associated with Contaminated Pork Products - Alberta, Canada, July-October 2014

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017 Jan 6;65(52):1477-1481. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6552a5.

Abstract

During July-October 2014, an outbreak of 119 Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections in Alberta, Canada was identified through notifiable disease surveillance and investigated by local, provincial, and federal public health and food regulatory agencies. Twenty-three (19%) patients were hospitalized, six of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome; no deaths were reported. Informed by case interviews, seven potential food sources were identified and investigated. The majority of patients reported having consumed meals containing pork at Asian-style restaurants in multiple geographically diverse Alberta cities during their exposure period. Traceback investigations revealed a complex pork production and distribution chain entirely within Alberta. E. coli O157:H7-contaminated pork and pork production environments and mishandling of pork products were identified at all key points in the chain, including slaughter, processor, retail, and restaurant facilities. An outbreak-specific pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) cluster pattern was found in clinical and pork E. coli O157:H7 isolates. Measures to mitigate the risk for exposure and illness included pork product recalls, destruction of pork products, temporary food facility closures, targeted interventions to mitigate improper pork-handling practices identified at implicated food facilities, and prosecution of a food facility operator. Pork should be considered a potential source in E. coli O157:H7 investigations and prevention messaging, and pork handling and cooking practices should be carefully assessed during regulatory food facility inspections.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alberta / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
  • Escherichia coli O157 / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Food Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Red Meat / microbiology*
  • Swine
  • Young Adult