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. 2015 Jan;143(2):267-73.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268814000880. Epub 2014 Apr 14.

National patterns of Escherichia coli O157 infections, USA, 1996-2011

S V Sodha  1 , K Heiman  1 , L H Gould  1 , R Bishop  1 , M Iwamoto  1 , D L Swerdlow  1 , P M Griffin  1
Affiliations

National patterns of Escherichia coli O157 infections, USA, 1996-2011

S V Sodha et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

US public health laboratories began reporting Escherichia coli O157 isolates to CDC in 1996. We describe temporal and geographical patterns of isolates reported from 1996 to 2011 and demographics of persons whose specimens yielded isolates. We calculated annual E. coli O157 isolation rates/100 000 persons by patient's state of residence, county of residence, age, and sex using census data. The average annual isolation rate was 0·84. The average isolation rate in northern states (1·52) was higher than in southern states (0·43). Counties with ⩾76% rural population had a lower isolation rate (0·67) than counties with ⩽25%, 26-50%, and 51-75% rural populations (0·81, 0·92, and 0·81, respectively). The highest isolation rate (3·19) was in children aged 1-4 years. Infections were seasonal with 49% of isolates collected during July to September. Research into reasons for higher incidence in northern states and for seasonality could guide strategies to prevent illnesses.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Annual isolation of E. coli O157, USA, Laboratory-based Enteric Disease Surveillance, 1996–2011.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Average annual isolation rate of E. coli O157 by state, USA, Laboratory-based Enteric Disease Surveillance, 1996–2011 (n = 38895).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Number of E. coli O157 isolates by month, USA, Laboratory-based Enteric Disease Surveillance, 1996–2011 (n = 38895).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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