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Cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome climb to 26, but reports of E. coli slow
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The CDC reported on June 1 there were 197 sick people from 35 states, including 75 hospitalizations, connected with the E. coli outbreak associated with tainted lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona region. One death linked to the E. coli occurred in California; four other deaths were reported.
The agency believes the number of cases has slowed based on the likelihood that most of the tainted lettuce has been processed.
“According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the last shipments of romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region were harvested on April 16, 2018 and the harvest season is over. It is unlikely that any romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region is still available in stores or restaurants due to its 21-day shelf life,” according to the CDC noted on its website.
The agency reported 26 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which damages the red blood cells and can lead to kidney failure, Alicia M. Neu, MD, a professor of pediatrics and chief of the division of pediatric nephrology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in an interview with Nephrology News & Issues. “The toxin damages the lining of small blood vessels. This damage makes the lining ‘sticky’ for platelets, the blood cell that helps control bleeding. The platelets stick to the lining of the blood vessel, making the inside of the blood vessel narrower. When the blood vessels are narrowed, it is harder for blood to get to the organs.”
Children, especially those younger than 5 years of age, and younger adults are particularly vulnerable to developing HUS, she said. The amount of bacteria ingested dictates the likelihood of getting it.
“The bacteria are not evenly distributed on the food, so two people could eat from the same bag of lettuce and one may eat pieces that have a high concentration of bacteria, and another could eat lettuce with low levels,” Neu said.
Recovery time from HUS can vary from days to weeks, and patients with “serious damage to the kidneys do not recover kidney function,” she said.