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Reserch Identifies Most Dangerous and Prevalent E. Coli Strains

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

Recent outbreaks associated with a deadly form of the E. coli bacteria, known as the 0157:H7 strain, have made researchers wonder how the bacteria are evolving. A 2006 outbreak linked to contaminated spinach caused the removal of fresh produce from store shelves nationwide. Hundreds were sickened, three were killed, and scientists have noted the trend of the greater risk of serious E. coli outbreaks.

As reported by ABC7,

"The disease has gotten much worse than it was, with a much greater fraction of people having to go to hospital and a much greater fraction of people that are seriously infected with the toxin," says Thomas Whittam PhD. of Michigan State University.

Whittam’s research used new technology to quickly identify different strains of the deadly bacteria and to group them into eight different groups. The research showed that group eight is the most dangerous and is also becoming much more prevalent, appearing twice as much as it did two years ago.

"It's either added some of its ability to rapidly spread into human sources, or it's acquired something that causes it to be more serious once it infects humans."

The technology used in the research could be used to more quickly identify bacteria linked to outbreak and help reduce the spread of illness. The research focused on bacteria samples from outbreak victims, but Whittam’s future research will include a survey of food sources to gain a greater understanding of how dangerous pathogens are entering the food supply.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on March 17, 2008 (boomark / email).