Farming Environment Increases Risk of E. coli O157 Infection
Author Information
Author(s): Sarah J. O'Brien, Goutam K. Adak, Clare Gilham
Primary Institution: Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
Hypothesis
Is exposure to the farming environment a significant risk factor for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 infection in humans?
Conclusion
Contact with the farming environment is strongly associated with sporadic STEC O157 infection in England.
Supporting Evidence
- Exposure to the farming environment had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.45 for infection.
- Patients who traveled away from home during the exposure period had an increased risk of infection.
- Consumption of rare chicken and watercress were also associated with increased risk.
Takeaway
Being around farms can make you sick with a type of bacteria called E. coli O157, especially if you don't usually go to farms.
Methodology
A prospective, unmatched case-control study using self-administered questionnaires to identify risk factors for sporadic STEC O157 infection.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to recruitment methods and the exclusion of certain patient populations.
Limitations
The study did not include cases diagnosed in NHS laboratories, which may limit representativeness.
Participant Demographics
Patients ranged from 2 months to 84 years old, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0004
Confidence Interval
1.49-4.02
Statistical Significance
p=0.0004
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