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. 2005 Apr;11(4):603-9.
doi: 10.3201/eid1104.040739.

Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks, United States, 1982-2002

Josefa M Rangel  1 , Phyllis H Sparling, Collen Crowe, Patricia M Griffin, David L Swerdlow
Affiliations

Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks, United States, 1982-2002

Josefa M Rangel et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 Apr.

Abstract

Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes 73,000 illnesses in the United States annually. We reviewed E. coli O157 outbreaks reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand the epidemiology of E. coli O157. E. coli O157 outbreaks (>or=2 cases of E. coli O157 infection with a common epidemiologic exposure) reported to CDC from 1982 to 2002 were reviewed. In that period, 49 states reported 350 outbreaks, representing 8,598 cases, 1,493 (17%) hospitalizations, 354 (4%) hemolytic uremic syndrome cases, and 40 (0.5%) deaths. Transmission route for 183 (52%) was foodborne, 74 (21%) unknown, 50 (14%) person-to-person, 31 (9%) waterborne, 11 (3%) animal contact, and 1 (0.3%) laboratory-related. The food vehicle for 75 (41%) foodborne outbreaks was ground beef, and for 38 (21%) outbreaks, produce.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks by year, 1982–2002 (N = 350).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Median size of Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks by year.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Transmission routes of Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks by year.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Vehicles of foodborne Escherichia coli O157 outbreaks by year.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and case-fatality rate per 100 outbreak-related illnesses.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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