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Romaine lettuce outbreak: Same E. coli strain found on California farm

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The CDC said it found the same strain of Escherichia coli identified in a recent outbreak linked to romaine lettuce in a water reservoir on a California farm.

The outbreak led to a nationwide disposal of romaine lettuce just before Thanksgiving and to changes in the way the leafy greens are packaged.

According to the CDC, the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7 was identified in sediment collected within an agricultural water reservoir on farm owned by Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. The CDC, FDA and state partners are continuing to investigate farms and cooling facilities in California that were identified through traceback and others that may have used the water reservoir.

The CDC has advised that consumers not eat any romaine lettuce harvested from Monterey, San Benito or Santa Barbara counties in California. To help consumers identify where their romaine lettuce was harvested, the industry has agreed to label packages with a harvest location by region. If this information is not available, the CDC suggested that consumers not purchase the product.

In response to a nationwide outbreak of E. coli, producers and distributers have begun labeling romaine lettuce with the location and date of harvest. .

Source: Gerard Gallagher/Infectious Disease News

So far, 59 cases have been reported across 15 states and the District of Columbia, with illnesses beginning from Oct. 5 to Nov. 16. Of those infected, 23 have been hospitalized and two have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. The CDC expects to see additional cases reported due to the 2- to 3-week delay from when a person gets sick to when the illness is reported to the CDC.

Antibiotics are not recommended for patients with suspected or confirmed E. coli O157 infections because some studies have shown that administering antibiotics could increase the risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome, the CDC noted. – by Caitlyn Stulpin

Reference:

CDC. Outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce. https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-11-18/index.html. Accessed December 14, 2018.