Factors Contributing to the Emergence of Escherichia coli O157 in Africa
Emerging Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.3201/eid0705.017507
- PMID
- 11747693
- PMCID
- PMC2631888
- OpenAlex
- W2123437427
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The findings highlight potential roles for drought, cattle carriage of E. coli O157, and heavy rainfall in facilitating water contamination and disease emergence in this region.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
This study investigated factors contributing to the emergence of Escherichia coli O157 infections in southern Africa during a 1992 outbreak.
Study design
The investigation included a retrospective survey of 778 residents, environmental sampling from affected areas, and analysis of patient and environmental bacterial isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
Population and setting
The outbreak affected persons over 5 years of age in Swaziland and South Africa during October through November 1992, following drought conditions and heavy rainfall.
Main findings
Among surveyed residents, the attack rate was 42%, with significant risk factors including female gender, consumption of beef, and untreated water. Molecular typing showed indistinguishable patterns in 27 of 31 isolates from patients and the environment. The outbreak coincided with a fivefold increase in cattle deaths, first heavy rains after three months of drought, and contamination of surface water.
Public-health relevance
The findings highlight potential roles for drought, cattle carriage of E. coli O157, and heavy rainfall in facilitating water contamination and disease emergence in this region.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; full interpretation requires access to the original paper for assessment of study limitations, potential confounders, and generalizability of findings.
GIDS interpretation
This study documents a specific outbreak in 1992 and provides descriptive evidence of environmental and behavioral risk factors. The findings are contextual to this event and should not be extrapolated to current surveillance signals without supporting contemporary data.
Evidence relationships
This article has 7 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.