Spinach-associated Escherichia coli O157:H7 Outbreak, Utah and New Mexico, 2006

Abstract

In 2006, Utah and New Mexico health departments investigated a multistate cluster of Escherichia coli O157:H7. A case–control study of 22 case-patients found that consuming bagged spinach was significantly associated with illness (p<0.01). The outbreak strain was isolated from 3 bags of 1 brand of spinach. Nationally, 205 persons were ill with the outbreak strain.

Keywords

• Escherichia coli
• Spinach oleracea
• disease outbreaks
• Escherichia coli O157
• case-control studies
• electrophoresis