Escherichia coli O103 outbreak associated with minced celery among hospitalized individuals in Victoria, British Columbia, 2021.

Courtney Smith, Allison Griffiths, Sandra Allison, D. Hoyano, L. Hoang
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Background In April 2021, a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) (STEC) O103 outbreak was identified among patients at two hospitals in Victoria, British Columbia (BC). The objective of this study is to describe this outbreak investigation and identify issues of food safety for high-risk products prepared for vulnerable populations. Methods Confirmed cases of E. coli O103 were reported to the Island Health communicable disease unit. The provincial public health laboratory conducted whole genome sequencing on confirmed case isolates, as per routine practice for STEC in BC. Exposure information was obtained through case interviews and review of hospital menus. Federal and local public health authorities conducted an inspection of the processing plant for the suspect source. Results Six confirmed cases of E. coli O103 were identified, all related by whole genome sequencing. The majority of cases were female (67%) and the median age was 61 years (range 24-87 years). All confirmed cases were inpatients or outpatients at two hospitals and were exposed to raw minced celery within prepared sandwiches provided by hospital food services. A local processor supplied the minced celery exclusively to the two hospitals. Testing of product at the processor was infrequent, and chlorine rinse occurred before mincing. The spread of residual E. coli contamination through the mincing process, in addition to temperature abuse at the hospitals, are thought to have contributed to this outbreak. Conclusion Raw vegetables, such as celery, are a potential source of STEC and present a risk to vulnerable populations. Recommendations from this outbreak include more frequent testing at the processor, a review of the chlorination and mincing process and a review of hospital food services practices to mitigate temperature abuse.
2021年,不列颠哥伦比亚省维多利亚州住院患者中与切碎的芹菜相关的大肠杆菌O103爆发。
2021年4月,在不列颠哥伦比亚省维多利亚州的两家医院的患者中发现了产志贺毒素的大肠杆菌(E. coli) (STEC) O103疫情。本研究的目的是描述这次疫情调查,并确定为脆弱人群准备的高风险产品的食品安全问题。方法将确诊的O103大肠杆菌病例报告至岛卫生传染病科。根据BC省产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的常规做法,省公共卫生实验室对确诊病例分离株进行了全基因组测序。暴露信息是通过病例访谈和医院菜单审查获得的。联邦和地方公共卫生当局对可疑来源的加工厂进行了检查。结果共检出6例O103大肠杆菌,均经全基因组测序鉴定。大多数病例为女性(67%),中位年龄为61岁(24-87岁)。所有确诊病例均为两家医院的住院或门诊病人,并接触了医院食品服务部门提供的预制三明治中的生剁碎芹菜。当地一家加工厂专门向这两家医院供应切碎的芹菜。很少在加工厂对产品进行检测,并且在切碎之前进行氯冲洗。在切碎过程中残留的大肠杆菌污染的传播,加上医院的温度滥用,被认为是导致这次疫情的原因。结论芹菜等生蔬菜是产志毒素大肠杆菌的潜在来源,对易感人群存在风险。这次疫情的建议包括在加工厂进行更频繁的检测,对氯化和切碎过程进行审查,并对医院食品服务的做法进行审查,以减少温度滥用。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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