Post by Denise on Jun 3, 2011 15:34:46 GMT
Q&A on large outbreak of HUS in Germany caused by E. coli
What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli (commonly referred to as E. coli) is a type of bacteria that can be found in the intestines of many animals. Some strains can cause illness in people. Usually people suffer from diarrhoea which settles within seven days without treatment. However some strains can cause serious kidney and blood complications, such as haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS).
Where does the bacteria come from?
Most people normally carry harmless strains of E. coli in their intestine. Both the harmless strains and the strains that cause diarrhoea are acquired primarily through ingestion of contaminated food or water. Person-to-person and animal-to-human transmission is through the oral-faecal route.
What is the type of bacteria seen in Germany that has caused this outbreak?
Verocytotoxin- producing E. coli (VTEC) O104 is a rare serogroup and further testing of samples is needed to confirm this as the cause of the outbreak. Reports from Germany refer to the VTEC cases as cases of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC). Some strains of VTEC are also referred to as Entrohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).
How has this bacteria got onto the vegetables?
We do not know as yet how the salad produce came to be contaminated in the outbreak in Germany.
Generally the bacteria would have got onto the vegetables in one of two ways. It may have been watered with contaminated water or there may have been faecal material in the soil in which they were grown. Washing alone would not remove all traces of the bacteria and there could be small amounts left on the vegetable. Even small amounts of E. coli can cause illness.
It is always advisable to wash fruits and vegetables before you eat them to ensure that they are clean and to help remove germs from the outside. Peeling or cooking fruit and vegetables can also remove these germs.
How do you stop it spreading?
Good hygiene is very important in preventing person-to person spread and small children should be supervised with hand washing after using the toilet and before eating. Advice on food safety can be found on the NHS Choices website.
Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome
What is haemolytic-uraemic syndrome or HUS?
Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) is a disorder that usually occurs when an infection, usually E. coli, in the digestive system produces toxic substances that can get into the blood stream and cause kidney disease.
What causes it?
HUS can occur some days after someone has had diarrhoea most commonly associated with E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli O157).
Who gets HUS?
HUS is most common in children and the elderly. It is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children. It is quite a rare complication from E. coli infection. Out of approximately 1000 E. coli cases reported each year in the UK, we would normally see approximately 100 cases of HUS, usually in children under 16.
Adults can get another disease called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) which is similar to HUS but can have central nervous system involvement.
What are the symptoms?
People who get HUS usually have diarrhoea first, which may be bloody. People who experience bloody diarrhoea should consult their doctor for advice. Children with bloody diarrhoea should seek urgent medical attention.
If you are admitted to hospital the doctor in charge of your care will do tests to confirm a diagnosis of HUS.
Can you get mild HUS or is it always very serious?
HUS is a serious condition however most people recover (approximately 98 per cent). Mortality is higher in the elderly who have other underlying health conditions.
What is the treatment?
Treatment may involve:
•Dialysis
•Medications such as corticosteroids
•Transfusions of packed red blood cells and platelets
Some people may have the liquid portion of their blood (plasma) removed and replaced with fresh (donated) plasma, or the plasma is filtered to remove antibodies from the blood.
www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1296687744200
What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli (commonly referred to as E. coli) is a type of bacteria that can be found in the intestines of many animals. Some strains can cause illness in people. Usually people suffer from diarrhoea which settles within seven days without treatment. However some strains can cause serious kidney and blood complications, such as haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS).
Where does the bacteria come from?
Most people normally carry harmless strains of E. coli in their intestine. Both the harmless strains and the strains that cause diarrhoea are acquired primarily through ingestion of contaminated food or water. Person-to-person and animal-to-human transmission is through the oral-faecal route.
What is the type of bacteria seen in Germany that has caused this outbreak?
Verocytotoxin- producing E. coli (VTEC) O104 is a rare serogroup and further testing of samples is needed to confirm this as the cause of the outbreak. Reports from Germany refer to the VTEC cases as cases of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC). Some strains of VTEC are also referred to as Entrohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).
How has this bacteria got onto the vegetables?
We do not know as yet how the salad produce came to be contaminated in the outbreak in Germany.
Generally the bacteria would have got onto the vegetables in one of two ways. It may have been watered with contaminated water or there may have been faecal material in the soil in which they were grown. Washing alone would not remove all traces of the bacteria and there could be small amounts left on the vegetable. Even small amounts of E. coli can cause illness.
It is always advisable to wash fruits and vegetables before you eat them to ensure that they are clean and to help remove germs from the outside. Peeling or cooking fruit and vegetables can also remove these germs.
How do you stop it spreading?
Good hygiene is very important in preventing person-to person spread and small children should be supervised with hand washing after using the toilet and before eating. Advice on food safety can be found on the NHS Choices website.
Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome
What is haemolytic-uraemic syndrome or HUS?
Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) is a disorder that usually occurs when an infection, usually E. coli, in the digestive system produces toxic substances that can get into the blood stream and cause kidney disease.
What causes it?
HUS can occur some days after someone has had diarrhoea most commonly associated with E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli O157).
Who gets HUS?
HUS is most common in children and the elderly. It is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in children. It is quite a rare complication from E. coli infection. Out of approximately 1000 E. coli cases reported each year in the UK, we would normally see approximately 100 cases of HUS, usually in children under 16.
Adults can get another disease called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) which is similar to HUS but can have central nervous system involvement.
What are the symptoms?
People who get HUS usually have diarrhoea first, which may be bloody. People who experience bloody diarrhoea should consult their doctor for advice. Children with bloody diarrhoea should seek urgent medical attention.
If you are admitted to hospital the doctor in charge of your care will do tests to confirm a diagnosis of HUS.
Can you get mild HUS or is it always very serious?
HUS is a serious condition however most people recover (approximately 98 per cent). Mortality is higher in the elderly who have other underlying health conditions.
What is the treatment?
Treatment may involve:
•Dialysis
•Medications such as corticosteroids
•Transfusions of packed red blood cells and platelets
Some people may have the liquid portion of their blood (plasma) removed and replaced with fresh (donated) plasma, or the plasma is filtered to remove antibodies from the blood.
www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1296687744200