Possible pizza E. coli case in Iowa

Posted on November 14, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

The Des Moines Register reported this morning that an Iowa E. coli case might be connected to the E. coli outbreak that was traced back to consumption of Totino's and Jeno's pizzas earlier this month.  According to the story, testing is still being conducted, and the epidemiologic investigation has not yet concluded that the pizza was the source of the Iowan's illness; however, the investigation is ongoing.  Nigel Duara wrote:

totino's ecoli outbreakDr. Patricia Quinlisk of the Iowa Department of Public Health said Tuesday that either a person in western Iowa contracted a strain of E. coli that matches the DNA "fingerprint" of the E. coli bacterium involved in a national frozen pizza recall, or the person's history involves consumption of the tainted product.

The bacterium in the recall is blamed for sickening 23 people in 12 other states, including bordering states South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Quinlisk said the department has investigated three cases. Two did not match the strain found in the pepperoni in Totino's and Jeno's pizzas, but one case is still under investigation.

"We're still waiting for some further information," Quinlisk said Tuesday. "We don't know it's definitely here. Two (cases) were proved not to be here."

General Mills announced on November 1, 2007, that the company was recalling its Totino’s Crisp Crust Party pizzas and Jeno’s Crisp ‘N Tasty pizzas for possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination. The recall was initiated after over 20 people became ill with E. coli infections after eating the pizzas.

The pizzas were produced on or before October 30, and were distributed nationwide. Each package is marked with “EST. 7750” inside the USDA seal of inspection, and has a “best if used by” date on or before April 2, 2008.

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Totino's Pizza E. coli Outbreak

Posted on November 1, 2007 by E. coli Attorney

At least 21 people have become ill with E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating Totino's or Jeno's brand pizzas produced by General Mills, according to a USDA press release issued today.  The victims of this most recent E. coli outbreak are from Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Consumers who have Totino's or Jeno's brand pizzas in their freezers that were produced before October 30, 2007, should not consume the pizzas.

E. coli O157:H7 infection is characterized by the sudden onset of abdominal pain and severe cramps, followed within 24 hours by diarrhea. As the disease progresses, the diarrhea becomes watery and then may become grossly bloody – bloody to the naked eye. Vomiting, and rarely fever, can also be symptoms. The incubation period for the illness (the period from ingestion of the bacterium to the start of symptoms) is typically three to nine days, although slightly shorter and longer periods are not that unusual. An incubation period of less than 24 hours would be unusual, however. In most infected individuals, the intestinal illness lasts about a week and resolves without any long-term problems.

Although most people recover from E. coli O157:H7 infection, about five to ten percent of infected individuals develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe, life-threatening complication of E. coli O157:H7 bacterial infection.  HUS develops when E. coli’s toxins enter the circulation by binding to special receptors.  During HUS, red blood cells are destroyed and cellular debris accumulates within the blood vessels while the body’s clot-breaking mechanisms are disrupted, causing blockage of the terminal arterioles and capillaries (microcirculation) of most of the major body organs, commonly the heart, brain, kidneys, pancreas and adrenals.

E. coli O157:H7 is responsible for over 90 percent of the cases of HUS that develop in North America. Some organs appear more susceptible than others to the damage caused by these toxins.  These organs include the kidney, pancreas, and brain.

Some patients suffering from E. coli and HUS are diagnosed with Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP), a clinical syndrome defined by the presence of thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet counts) and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. It is sometimes called “Adult HUS”.

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