The recent E. coli O145 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce, which has caused several children to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), parents of severely injured kids are certainly questioning whether warnings to the leafy greens industry were ignored. To recap, there are 29 confirmed and probable illnesses, and realistically many many others, in the
Romaine lettuce outbreak: HUS illnesses in Wappinger Falls, New York
The romaine lettuce outbreak has caused at least two E. coli O145-induced cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Wappinger Falls, New York. A bag of Freshway Foods romaine lettuce intended for consumption in the Wappinger School District also tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli O145, leading to a national recall. Two students
With E. coli O145 Illnesses in New York, Ohio and Michigan, a Refresher Course on the Enemy is in Order
Escherichia coli (E. coli) are members of a large group of bacterial germs that inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and other warm-blooded animals (mammals, birds). More than 700 serotypes of E. coli have been identified. Their “O” and “H” antigens on their bodies and flagella distinguish the different E. coli serotypes, respectively. The E.
Wappingers Central School District Reports Two Students with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, Freshway Foods shredded romaine lettuce sent from the Wappingers Central School District to the New York state Health Department tested positive for E. coli O145 bacteria and led to a national recall AFTER several students were sickened. Two students from the district were hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center last month with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Two others were hospitalized. The students go to Roy C. Ketcham High School, John Jay High School Wappingers Junior High School and Van Wyck Middle School.
About Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a severe, life-threatening complication of an E. coli bacterial infection that was first described in 1955, and is now recognized as the most common cause of acute kidney failure in childhood. E. coli O157:H7 is responsible for over 90% of the cases of HUS that develop in North America. In fact, some researchers now believe that E. coli O157:H7 and other shiga toxin E. coli, like O145, are the only cause of HUS in children.
HUS develops when the toxin from E. coli bacteria, known as Shiga-like toxin (SLT), enters cells lining the large intestine. The Shiga-toxin triggers a complex cascade of changes in the blood. Cellular debris accumulates within the body’s tiny blood vessels and there is a disruption of the inherent clot-breaking mechanisms. The formation of micro-clots in the blood vessel-rich kidneys leads to impaired kidney function and can cause damage to other major organs.
What are the Symptoms associated with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?
About ten percent of individuals with E. coli O157:H7 infections (mostly young children) goes on to develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a severe, potentially life-threatening complication. HUS is an extremely complex process that researchers are still trying to fully explain.
Its three central features describe the essence of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), destruction of platelets (those blood cells responsible for clotting, resulting in low platelet counts, or thrombocytopenia), and acute renal failure. In HUS, renal failure is caused when the nephrons, or filtering units, become occluded (blocked) by micro-thrombi, which are tiny blood clots. In almost all cases, the filtering ability of the kidneys recovers as the body of the patient slowly dissolves the micro-thrombi within the microvessels.
A typical person is born with about one million filtering units, called nephrons, in each kidney. The core of the nephron is a bundle of tiny blood vessels, called a glomerulus, where osmotic exchange allows for the filtration of wastes that eventually collect in the urine and are excreted. During Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, the lack of blood flow to the nephrons can cause them to die or be damaged, just as heart muscle can die as the result of coronary vessel occlusion during a heart attack. Dead nephrons do not regenerate.
In general, the longer a patient suffers kidney failure, the greater the loss of filtering units as a result. At some point, the damage to the kidneys’ filtering units can be so severe that the patient will, over a period of years, lose kidney function and suffer end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which requires chronic dialysis or transplantation.
HUS can also cause transient or permanent damage to other organs, which include the pancreas, liver, brain, and heart. The essential pathogenic process is the same regardless of the organ affected: microthrombi inhibit necessary blood flow and cause tissue death or damage. During the acute stage of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, patients must be carefully monitored for these extra-renal complications. It is very difficult to predict the severity and course of HUS once it initiates.
The active stage of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome may be defined as that period of time during which there is evidence of hemolysis and the platelet count is less than 100,000. In HUS, the active stage usually lasts an average of six days (range, 2-16 days). It is during the active stage that the complications of HUS per se usually occur.
What are the complications and long-term risks associated with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?Continue Reading Wappingers Central School District Reports Two Students with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Romaine Lettuce E. coli O145 outbreak: great detective work in New York
An epidemiological investigation consists of many moving parts, an incredible degree of teamwork, and sometimes from multiple federal and state agencies. But success in stopping the spread of disease sometimes turns on the actions of one competent department. Good work to the State of New York State Department of Health and the Dutchess County Health
Ohio foodpoisoning count increases: 22 Salmonella cases at Athens restaurant
A salmonella outbreak linked to an Athens, Ohio restaurant has sickened at least 22 people. 10 TV news reported today on the salmonella outbreak:
More than 20 people have been sickened after eating at the same restaurant and health officials on Friday said they suspect it was the result of salmonella.
A popular Athens
The Poughkeepsie Problem: E. coli contaminated romaine lettuce
The E. coli O145 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has reached Wappinger Falls, New York, which is separated from the town of Poughkeepsie by Wappinger Creek. Early reports were that students from Daemen College, which is located in Buffalo, New York, were the only New Yorkers affected, but the Wappinger School District was, in fact
Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak hits Wappinger NY school district
Emily Stewart of the Poughkeepsie Journal today reported that a bag of lettuce intended for distribution to Wappinger Central School District schools was the bag that tested positive for E. coli O145, thus providing the smoking gun in the E. coli O145 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from Freshway Foods in Ohio.
The lettuce was sent
Lettuce E. coli O145 outbreak has a high hospitalization rate
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Lettuce E. coli Outbreak: the Yuma, Arizona link
Based on scheduled growing seasons, the product involved in the E. coli O145 lettuce outbreak that has sickened many people in Michigan, Ohio, and New York was likely grown and processed in Yuma, Arizona. The outbreak has resulted in at least 12 hospitalizations and 3 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Lettuce was imported as