Health
Doctors Alarmed As Rare Infection Tied To Colon Cancer Spreads — Hundreds Affected
According to new government numbers, the number of cases of lethal E. coli food poisoning increased by almost 80% in a single year, and six British people were verified to have died as a result of the infection.
In 2022, there were 2,063 confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), up from 1,151 the previous year, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
One of the most harmful types of food-borne E. coli is STEC, which can lead to severe blood coagulation problems, potentially fatal renal failure, and colon cancer.
In addition to the fatalities, 399 individuals in England were admitted to hospitals because of severe symptoms that necessitated immediate medical care.
Many of the cases were connected to four outbreaks that were linked to tainted beef, salad leaves, and dairy products, according to the UKHSA’s most recent annual report.
With 762 occurrences, more than twice as many as the previous year and the greatest number in over ten years, the O157 strain of STEC was the most frequent offender.
One out of every three O157 strain-infected individuals with known outcomes—a total of 233—needed hospitalisation.
Of those sent to the hospital, 13 later developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a dangerous side effect that can result in potentially fatal kidney damage.
Since their immune systems are still maturing and their kidneys are more susceptible to harm from the bacteria’s toxins, children under five are particularly vulnerable.
Three individuals tragically passed away after contracting HUS from an O157 infection.
According to UKHSA, 200 instances of O157 STEC were caused by a single major outbreak, however this was insufficient to explain the entire increase that was seen.
Health officials admitted that the elimination of Covid restrictions, which had also helped stop the spread of E. coli, was probably responsible for some of the increase, but they said this was insufficient to fully explain the extent of the surge.
They suggested that modifications to reporting procedures might play a role.
Other hypotheses include an increase in the number of individuals, such as fat people, who are susceptible to serious illness.
It’s also possible that more consumers are choosing to buy bagged salads or prepared sandwiches that include key sources of the bug, such lettuce.
According to studies, 50% of E. coli outbreaks are caused by leafy greens.
According to experts, lettuce’s texture may make it more likely to harbour bacteria, and the fact that it’s frequently left uncooked, which would normally eliminate bugs, raises the risk.
Additionally, the UKHSA has linked a few of the 2022 STEC cases to warm, humid weather that provided the “perfect” environment for the infection to proliferate.
“Prolonged periods of heat”, including temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius “followed by high rainfall” likely caused contaminated soil to be mixed with water and spread over crops, it added.
The bug’s growing spread is further worrisome because earlier this year, studies revealed that E. coli, including STEC strains, may be responsible for a startling spike in colon cancer cases in those under 50.
In cancers from people under 40, experts discovered levels of colibactin, a toxin associated to cancer that is produced by specific strains like non-0157 STEC.
STEC symptoms range from moderate to bloody diarrhoea, and other symptoms of an infection include fever, cramping in the stomach, and vomiting.
In extreme situations, the bug can result in thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP), an uncommon and potentially fatal blood condition, as well as HUS.
Although symptoms may last for up to two weeks, the majority of people who contract the virus will recover without NHS assistance in a week.
Antibiotics and antidiarrheal medications are generally not advised for STEC, according to health officials.
This is due to the possibility that the medications’ effects on the bacteria could result in a greater accumulation of toxins, raising the chance of developing complications like HUS.
Eating infected foods, such as raw vegetables, cheese, and undercooked minced meats, is the main way that STEC is distributed.
Because the germs can readily jump from contaminated work surfaces or from infected individuals preparing food who haven’t properly cleansed their hands, such foods are susceptible to STEC contamination.
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