J Agric Med Community Health.  2015 Jun;40(2):53-61. 10.5393/JAMCH.2015.40.2.053.

Epidemiological Investigation on an Outbreak of Enterotoxigenic E. coli among the Baseball Club Students of High School in Ulsan City, 2014

• Kang YE
• Lim HS
• Lee K
• Kim BS

• KMID: 2285248
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2015.40.2.053

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
An outbreak of food poisoning occurred among the baseball club students at a high school in Ulsan city in 2014. An epidemiological investigation was carried out to examine the infection source and the transmission route of pathogen, and to prevent a recurrence.
METHODS
A questionnaire survey was conducted for 26 male students and 2 food handlers. Rectal swabs were examined in 7 students and the 2 food handlers, and an environmental investigation was performed. A retrospective cohort study was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and disease.
RESULTS
The attack rate was 35.7% (10 persons/28 persons) from June 9 to 14, and Enterotoxigenic E. coli ST/LT was isolated from 7 among 28 persons. The study revealed that no food was a significant risk factor for the outbreak. There were no connection between environmental factors and the outbreak.
CONCLUSIONS
The major risk factors for this outbreak were presumed to be the contaminated ice cube and ice making machines and eating ice cube from the machines. More strict personal and environmental hygiene need to be enforced to prevent such outbreaks.

Keyword

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli; Food contamination; Food poisoning; Epidemics; Ice

MeSH Terms

Baseball*
Cohort Studies
Disease Outbreaks
Eating
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli*
Food Contamination
Foodborne Diseases
Humans
Hygiene
Ice
Male
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Ulsan
Surveys and Questionnaires
Ice