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Risk factors for sporadic cases of Escherichia coli O157 infection: the importance of contact with animal excreta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2001

M. E. LOCKING ,
S. J. O'BRIEN ,
W. J. REILLY ,
E. M. WRIGHT ,
D. M. CAMPBELL ,
J. E. COIA ,
L. M. BROWNING  and
C. N. RAMSAY
M. E. LOCKING
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN
S. J. O'BRIEN
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN
W. J. REILLY
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN
E. M. WRIGHT
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN Department of Statistics and Modelling Science, University of Strathclyde, Livingstone Tower, Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XH
D. M. CAMPBELL
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN
J. E. COIA
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Western General Hospital NHS Trust, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
L. M. BROWNING
Affiliation:
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Clifton House, Clifton Place, Glasgow G3 7LN
C. N. RAMSAY
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Lothian Health, Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9RS
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Abstract

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To determine environmental risk factors for sporadic E. coli O157 infection in Scotland we undertook a prospective, matched case-control study between 1 October 1996 and 31 March 1999. One hundred and eighty-three cases and 545 matched controls were recruited. Contact with animal faeces (OR = 3·65; 95% CI 1·81, 7·34; P < 0·0005) and likely contact with animal faeces (OR = 4·8; 95% CI 2·42, 9·48; P < 0·0005) emerged as strong risk factors for infection. Certain exposures (mainly food-related) were inversely associated with infection i.e. were statistically protective. Most striking was the consumption of bottled water (OR = 0·28; 95% CI 0·15, 0·52; P < 0·0005). Transmission of E. coli O157 does not occur simply through contaminated food. Members of the public need to be aware of the potential for acquiring E. coli O157 through contamination of the environment with animal faeces so that they may take measures to mitigate their risk.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 127 , Issue 2 , October 2001 , pp. 215 - 220
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press