ENTEROHEMORRHAGIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI - THE AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVE

Food borne transmission of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) was first r eported in Australia in 1995 when an outbreak of HUS due to Escherichi a coli O111 occurred following the consumption of locally produced met twurst. Federal and state health and food authorities responded rapidl y to bring the outbreak under control. Longer-term responses include t he introduction by regulatory authorities of a code of practice for un cooked fermented comminuted meat products, the provision of government and industry funds to support the implementation of this code, and re search into the ecology and epidemiology of enterohemorrhagic Escheric hia coli and the safe production of meat. In addition, general awarene ss has increased, and activities in food safety control among all sect ors has been stimulated. The pattern of EHEC serotypes in the Australi an human and animal populations appears different from that in countri es in the Northern Hemisphere. Serotype O157:H7 is not the predominant serotype isolated. Other serotypes, including O111, are more common a nd possess a variety of virulence-associated determinants. Research in to food safety and EHEC is therefore aimed at the development of detec tion methods more appropriate for the Australian situation. Additional research objectives include determining both the prevalence of EHEC i n meat and the meat animal population and farming and handling practic es that influence EHEC carriage and transmission. These activities wil l contribute to an assessment of the hazards presented by EHEC in Aust ralia and recommendations for their control.