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Title: OUTBREAK OF E. COLI O157:H7 AT A STATE FAIR - NORTH CAROLINA, 2004

Author
item GOODE, BRANT - CDC
item O'REILLY, C - CDC
item DUNN, JOHN - CDC
item FULLERTON, K - CDC
item SMITH, S - CDC
item JOYNER, M - CDC
item Durso, Lisa
item JENKINS, B - NCDPH
item GRIFFIN, D - NCDPH
item ENGEL, J - NCDPH
item DAVIES, M - NCDPH
item MONTGOMERY, S - CDC

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2005
Publication Date: 4/1/2005
Citation: Goode, B.B., O'Reilly, C., Dunn, J.R., Fullerton, K., Smith, S., Joyner, M., Durso, L.M., Jenkins, B., Griffin, D., Engel, J., Davies, M., Montgomery, S. 2005. Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 at a state fair - North Carolina, 2004[abstract]. 54th Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference. p. 67.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Background: E. coli O157:H7 and other enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). An estimated 73,000 EHEC related infections and 61 deaths occur annually in the United States. Contaminated foods, beverages, water and livestock contact have caused outbreaks. In 2004, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak occurred among North Carolina State Fair visitors. Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study among fair visitors using randomly recruited controls who purchased tickets in advance. We defined cases as persons with culture-confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infection, HUS, or bloody diarrhea with illness onset after visiting the fair. Clinical specimens and environmental samples were tested by culture and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Results: Of 108 reported cases, we enrolled 45 confirmed or probable case-patients and 188 controls in the case-control study. Median case-patient age was 3.2 years (range: 1-61). Thirty-six case-patients (80%) reported visiting the same petting zoo (Odds Ratio [OR]:7.7, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:3.5-17.0). Among visitors to this petting zoo, illness was associated with stepping in or touching manure (OR: 4.9, CI: 1.9-12.8), falling or sitting on the ground (OR: 3.4, CI: 1.3-8.6) or contact with sheep or goats’ front legs (OR: 2.5, CI: 1.03-5.9). Hand hygiene upon exiting the petting zoo was not protective (OR: 1.7, CI: 0.5-5.8). Of 38 patient isolates, 33 (87%) had indistinguishable PFGE patterns. Environmental isolates from the petting zoo area were indistinguishable by PFGE from these 33 clinical isolates. Conclusions: In this study, most illnesses were associated with animal or manure contact in a single petting zoo. Hand hygiene was not protective. Contact with animals and manure in petting zoos should be restricted to prevent EHEC infections.