Three Massachusetts women have been hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious, sometimes life-threatening condition that develops after some E. coli infections, local public health authorities are reporting. The women, who range in age from 41 to 53, were all infected with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 and were admitted to the hospital between May 20 and June 11.
One of the women was admitted with colitis from an E.coli infection and developed HUS at the hospital. Another woman who was admitted with an E.coli infection developed HUS while at the hospital And the third woman had already developed HUS when she was admitted to the hospital.
E.coli O157:H7 produces a shiga toxins that cause blood cells to become misshapen. These misshapen cells clog the filtration system of the kidneys, which leads to kidney failure. About 7,500 cases of HUS are disgnosed in the U.S. each year. E. coli is the leading cause of HUS. About 90 percent of HUS cases stem from E. coli. In May, an E.coli outbreak associated with the BBQ Shack in Toccoa, GA sickened 18 people. Seven were hospitalized and five developed HUS.
Health authorities have not yet identified a food source for the outbreak, but county and state officials are cooperating on the investigation. They will continue to provide updated information as it becomes available.
