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Escherichia coli O 157: outbreak in a day nursery
Insights
A nursery outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli O157) infected 17 children. Exclusion policies for symptomatic children effectively prevented further spread, despite the community outbreak source remaining unidentified.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Preschool settings can facilitate the spread of infectious diseases.
- Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli O157) is a significant cause of bacterial gastroenteritis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157 in a preschool.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of control measures implemented during the outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Epidemiological investigation of a nursery outbreak linked to a wider community outbreak.
- Implementation and assessment of exclusion policies for infected children.
Main Results:
- 17 out of 54 children in the nursery were infected with E. coli O157.
- The nursery outbreak was likely due to person-to-person transmission.
- Exclusion of symptomatic children until symptom resolution and one negative stool sample was effective.
Conclusions:
- Person-to-person spread was the likely transmission route in the nursery.
- Exclusion policies for symptomatic children are effective in controlling E. coli O157 spread in preschools.
Abstract:
Seventeen out of 54 preschool children at a day nursery became infected with Escherichia coli O 157. The nursery outbreak formed part of a wider community outbreak, whose source was not identified. Epidemiological investigation suggested that the nursery outbreak resulted from person to person spread. Children with diarrhoea or a positive faecal specimen were excluded until their symptoms had resolved and one negative faecal specimen had been obtained. Children who were asymptomatic throughout were not excluded. This policy appeared to be effective in preventing further spread of infection within the nursery.