April 2006

A study published in the British Medical Journal revealed that of 88 children who had contracted hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) between 1966 and 1985:

•    31% had protein in their urine (proteinuria)
•    18% had decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
•    10% had proteinuria, decreased GFR, and hypertension
•    3% had end stage renal

American retailers sell almost 6 million bags of prepared salad daily.

Over the course of three days last September, 11 cases of E. coli poisoning hit Minneapolis hospitals. No one was certain of the cause until a public health investigation was launched.

Although common culprits are undercooked meats, particularly ground beef, in this case the

1. Tonshoff B., Sammet A., Sanden I., Mehls O., Waldherr R., Scharer K., Outcome and prognostic determinants in the hemolytic uremic syndrome of children.
“The rate of recovery correlated with the degree of oligoanuria…. The proportion of patients who recovered was lower in the presence of severe hypertension during the acute phase….”
2. De Jong M., Monnens L. Haemolytic-uremic syndrome: A 10 year follow-up study of 73 patients.
“All six patients belonging to the third group (oliguria for more than 14 days or anuria for more than 7 days) had late sequelae: two started dialysis more than 10 years after the initial phase; three had decreased GFR and concentrating capacity.”
3. Gagnadoux MF., Habib R. Long-term prognosis of childhood HUS.
“after follow up of 15 to 20 years, about 25% of patients affected with typical HUS in their childhood present with some degree of renal impairment. 10% being in advanced renal failure.”
4. Kelles A., VanDyck M., Proesman W. Childhood HUS: long-term outcome and prognostic features.
“severe hypertension, anuria lasting more than 7 days and central nervous system involvment have all been said to be associated with poor outcome that means early death and end-stage renal failure.”Continue Reading Prognosis Features – Acute HUS

Karen Shideler of The Wichita Eagle reminds everyone that federal health officials warned a year ago that petting zoos, fairs and similar gatherings are potential sources of illness. E. coli is potentially deadly, and federal health officials tracked three recent outbreaks to petting zoos. Other infectious diseases, including salmonella and ringworm, also have been linked

According to the Associated Press, a researcher at Texas Tech University applied a mixture of four different lactic acid bacterium to ground beef and found the combination reduced the presence of salmonella and a harmful E. coli strain by as much as 99.99 percent.

Researcher Mindy Brashears said the mixture is the first post-production treatment

A preliminary investigation report released by the Ohio Department of Health pointed to contaminated fruit served at seven catered events in the Toledo area as the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened 14 people and killed one woman last September. Two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication of E. coli infection that can lead to organ failure, central nervous system impairment, and death.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to investigate the outbreak, but Ohio health officials note in the preliminary report that, “Although other possibilities exist, findings suggest that the fruit may have been contaminated during preparation.” In fact, two people in Wisconsin who tested positive for a genetically indistinguishable strain of E. coli as that isolated from outbreak case-patients in Toledo reported consuming undercooked ground beef before becoming ill.Continue Reading Toledo E. coli outbreak linked to contaminated fruit served by caterer

Fruit supplied by a Toledo caterer seems to be the likely source of an E. coli outbreak during fall in Toledo that killed one woman and sickened 14 others, according to the Toledo Blade.

In September, food from the caterer was served at seven separate events, including a wake, a wedding or bridal shower reception

Courtney Duquette wrote a strong letter to The Ontarion at the University of Guelph, regarding the actions of restaurant workers at the Grill House on the University campus.

She witnessed one worker use her bare hands to handle raw hamburger meat, and then, without washing her hands, handling the hamburger buns. The students were then

David Schoenbrod, a former Natural Resources Defense Council litigator, was prompted to write an article based on his friends’ experience with the Federal Department of Agriculture’s decision to ban the sale of unpasteurized apple cider.

Schoenbrod had focused on getting federal agencies to protect public health in the 1970s. Although he still wants the health