The first reported outbreak of diarrheal illness associated with Cyclospora in the United States

Article Abstract:

An infection with a spherical organism called Cyclospora may be responsible for unexplained and recurring cases of watery diarrhea. Researchers examined the medical records of 21 hospital employees who were part of a diarrhea outbreak in Chicago. Routine stool sample tests were negative. However, microscopic testing of 10 stool samples revealed the presence of small spherical organisms confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control to be Cyclospora. Most of the patients reported drinking the tap water in the physician's dormitory following a pump failure in the building. Water tests did not reveal the presence of Cyclospora in the water system. Patients had watery diarrhea for an average of 5 days with the illness recurring in many patients over a period of weeks. Patients also reported symptoms of low-grade fever (48%), stomach cramping (76%), vomiting (24%), reduced appetite (48%), and body aches (52%).

Demographic aspects, Cyanobacteria, Diarrhea

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An outbreak of type A botulism associated with a commercial cheese sauce

Article Abstract:

Botulism should be considered as a possibility in patients presenting with signs or symptoms of sudden onset neurologic dysfunction even if the patient has not eaten a high-risk food. Researchers traced an outbreak of botulism to a commercially prepared cheese sauce served to eight people at a delicatessen. Half the patients were initially misdiagnosed, and one died. It is believed that the unrefrigerated cheese sauce became contaminated by spores from potatoes containing Clostridium botulinum, which is common in soil. The sauce's consistency allowed the low levels of oxygen that permitted the organism to grow.

Cheese, Sauces, Contamination, Botulism

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An Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection from Unpasteurized Commercial Apple Juice

Article Abstract:

Current techniques for producing unpasteurized apple juice may be inadequate to prevent transmission of pathogenic bacteria. Seventy people developed Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection after drinking a particular brand of juice. Twenty-five patients required hospitalization, 20% developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, and one patient died. All cases were traced to apple juice produced on Oct 7, 1996. Apples contaminated with deer feces or from a lot with decaying fruit accounted for transmission of the infectious bacteria. Unpasteurized juice should be regarded as potentially dangerous to health.

United States, Health aspects, Escherichia coli infections, Apple juice

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