Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Outbreak and its Incubation Period: Is it Short or Long?

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to determine the incubation period of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), which creates several outbreaks in a year in South Korea.MethodsWe reviewed all water and food-borne outbreaks data reported to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) from 2009 to 2010 and determined their characteristics. Through this process, we can presume the incubation period of EPEC among outbreaks in South Korea.ResultsA total of 497 water and food-borne outbreaks were reported to KCDC and 66 (13.28%) are defined as E coli-origin outbreaks. EPEC was the most common subtype of E coli, being confirmed as a causative organism in 26 outbreaks. Overall attack rate was 15.85% (range 0.9–100). The subjects were eight outbreaks that have a clear history of single exposure and we can estimate the incubation time of EPEC as minimum 0.5 hours to maximum 34.0 hours with a mean 12.9 hours (range 4.5–24.0). The cases of those cannot completely rule out the chance of multiple exposure from same source or place have minimum 1.0 hour, to a maximum of 195.5 hours and a mean 30.5 (range 22.7–61.0) hours of incubation period.ConclusionsThis serial analysis suggests that EPEC has actually shorter mean incubation period as much as 12 hours. When this period is longer than 1 day or over, then the epidemiologic investigator should consider the chance of repeated or continuous exposure by making it clear whether there is any chance of any other exposure in common.

Diarrheal Outbreak Caused by Atypical EnteropathogenicEscherichia coliO157:H45 in South Korea

“…The medium incubation period was 56 h, which is longer than that reported here (Hedberg et al, 1997). In South Korea, the EPEC outbreaks reported from 2009 to 2010 had a short mean incubation period of 12 h (Lee et al, 2012), which was similar to the medium incubation period of 19 h in this study.…”

“…The most common symptoms of EPEC cases were diarrhea, followed by abdominal pain and nausea (Lee et al, 2012). In May 2013, an outbreak of diarrheal illness was reported in a high school in Incheon, South Korea.…”

Pathophysiology of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli during a host infection

“…High prevalence of EPEC from diarrheal patients has been also reported in East Asia. In South Korea, EPEC has caused a total of 26 diarrheal outbreaks during 2009-2010, affecting 1,791 human patients [ 21 ]. A high incidence of EPEC in diarrheal patients has been reported in Japan [ 22 ].…”

Phenolic profiling and antibacterial potential of Saudi Arabian native date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars

“…It includes several categories of enterotoxigenic, diffuse adherent, enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic, enteroaggregative, enteroinvasive, and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. [25,26] In order to provide further detailed information on phenolic compounds and antibacterial activities of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera), the current study was devoted to investigate and compare three different highly consumable varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars, namely Ajwa, Khalas Alkharj and Al-Qasim for their broad-spectrum antibacterial effect and phenolic compounds. The current study was carried out to revealed the comparative analysis by experimental evidence in order to provide detailed information on phenolic compounds profiling and antibacterial activities of three different local and highly consumable varieties of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars, namely Ajwa, Khalas Alkharj, and Al-Qasim.…”