New research published in Clinical Infectious Diseases (subscriber only) has discovered a highly virulent clone of Enterohemmorhagic Escherichia coli 026 (EHEC) in Europe. This bacteria often causes the life-threatening complication hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
A study published in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases in September 2011 found that non-0157 E. coli bacteria are increasingly the source of HUS cases. That study looked at childhood HUS cases in Scotland that were caused by E. coli 026. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is most commonly associated with E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria. The Scotland study showed that “clinical severity and outcomes for the children with 026-HUS were worse than for children requiring treatment for 0157-HUS.” In addition, the researchers found that infection with E. coli 026 in children can “result in more severe and complicated forms of HUS than those caused by E. coli 0157.”
In the new research, conducted at the Institute for Hygiene in Munster, Germany, the new virulent EHEC 026 clone strains called ST29 emerged in Germany in the 1990s. That strain has the stx2a gene. The bacteria were found in six of the seven countries studied. The study’s authors state that “its reservoirs and sources warrant identification.”
E Coli 026 research finding may have an impact on N60
sampling for beef processing industry.
Techniracy meaning Technological literacy in rapid and statistically significant identification of E Coli 0157 H7 vis-a-vis E Coli 036 is going to be the biggest challenge to meat inspectors and HACCP personnel in beef processing plants all over the world .