Contact with farming environment as a major risk factor for Shiga toxin (Vero cytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli O157 infection in humans

S J O'Brien; G K Adak; C Gilham

doi:10.3201/eid0706.010626

Contact with farming environment as a major risk factor for Shiga toxin (Vero cytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli O157 infection in humans

Emerg Infect Dis. 2001 Nov-Dec;7(6):1049-51. doi: 10.3201/eid0706.010626.

Authors

S J O'Brien¹, G K Adak, C Gilham

Affiliation

¹ Gastrointestinal Diseases Division, Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, England, United Kingdom. sobrien@phls.org.uk

Abstract

In a prospective, unmatched case-control study of sporadic Shiga toxin (Vero cytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157) infection in England, exposure to the farming environment emerged strongly as a risk factor (adjusted odds ratio = 2.45; 95% confidence intervals = 1.49-4.02; p=0.0004) posing further challenges and opportunities for prevention.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Abdominal Pain / microbiology
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Agriculture*
Animals
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child, Preschool
Diarrhea / microbiology
England / epidemiology
Environment
Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
Escherichia coli O157* / isolation & purification
Escherichia coli O157* / metabolism
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Shiga Toxins* / biosynthesis
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Shiga Toxins