E.coli (Hansard, 24 July 2000)

§ Ms Stuart

The bacterium currently of most concern is vero cytotoxin producing E.coli, of which E.coli 0157 is the commonest. In may this year the Chief Medical Officer's Update, which is distributed to all medical practitioners, carried an article "VTEC Guidance" which drew attention to the seasonal increase in infection, the risks from farm visits and the susceptibility of children to developing Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome following infection with E.coli 0157. A further CMO Update in August will alert medical practitioners to the potential increased release of toxin that can be caused by certain classes of antibiotic in patients with E.coli 0157. The CMO also issued a press release "Health advice issued for farm visits by children" in April alerting the public to the risks of infection associated with farm visits and advising on sensible precautions to be taken to avoid infection. This advice was sent to all directors of public health and consultants in communicable disease control. Information has been given to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women on how to avoid infection. The Pregnancy Book, given to all first time mothers, contains advice on safe eating and how to avoid infection and this advice is repeated in the leaflet "While you are pregnant: safe eating and how to avoid infection" given to all mothers. Guidance was issued by the CMO in July 1998 on the safe cooking of burger meat to prevent foodborne infection.

All Public Health Service Laboratories test all stool samples for E.coli 0157 in accordance with agreed Standard Operating Procedures. The PHLS published its "Guidelines for the control of infection with Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC)" dealing with sampling and identification procedures. E.coli 0157 infection that is foodborne, which is the majority, is 405W notifiable as a 'foodborne disease', and all laboratories voluntarily notify all E.coli infections as part of an agreed reporting protocol.