Risk factors for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections in preadolescent schoolchildren in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections are the leading cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC is the most common cause of acute kidney disease, responsible for 20% of renal transplants in Argentina. Methodology: In 2007, an epidemiological survey was conducted among 883 students from the fifth and sixth years of elementary education in the public schools of San Martin City, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Degree of exposure to the known risk factors previously detected in the region as primary causes of STEC infections was evaluated. Risk factors assessed included consumption of hamburgers, poor personal hygiene, and exposure to various types of drinking and recreational water. The study was designed to evaluate exposure to risk factors for STEC infections among different socioeconomic groups. Results: Ninety-five percent of children surveyed reported consumption of hamburgers. Most of these hamburgers were precooked. Children of high and medium strata attended private swimming-pools, while children from the low stratum attended public pools. Only 30.2% of students washed their hands after going to the toilet and only 43.5% reported hand-washing before eating. Conclusions: Students demonstrated high levels of exposure to identified risk factors for STEC infections. Reduction of these risks will require cultural changes aimed at decreasing morbidity caused by food-borne infections. Institutional framework must provide the necessary resources to implement these changes and emphasize the importance of good personal hygiene. Health education must be implemented to increase food safety awareness of the consumers.

Recent Advances in Understanding Enteric Pathogenic Escherichia coli

“…STEC is also prevalent in developing countries such as Argentina, which has been described in the literature to have the highest worldwide incidence of HUS in children under the age of 5 (197). This may be due to excessive exposure to known risk factors associated with STEC infections, including meat consumption, playing in recreational water, and poor personal hygiene (198). In contrast, neighboring Brazil has low incidences of HUS (199), and cases of STEC O157:H7 are uncommon (200).…”

Characterization of Shiga Toxin-ProducingEscherichia coliIsolated from Ground Beef Collected in Different Socioeconomic Strata Markets in Buenos Aires, Argentina

“…Documentary information was obtained from the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos (INDEC—National Institute of Statistics and Census), which defines the socioeconomic levels of the district of San Martín as high, medium-high, medium, medium-low, and low [19]. For this study, the five socioeconomic levels (INDEC) were partially combined to create three strata: high (high and medium-high), medium (medium), and low (medium-low and low) [20]. Markets representing 30% of each socioeconomic stratum were selected by simple random sampling.…”

Pathogenic members of Escherichia coli & Shigella spp. Shigellosis

“…The prevention of infection requires control measures at all stages of the food chain, from agricultural production on the farm to processing, manufacturing and preparation of foods in both commercial establishments and household kitchens (Maranhão et al, 2008;Bentancor et al, 2012). To prevent water-borne transmission, prevention requires a proper water treatment.…”