VEROTOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA-COLI O-157 INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITHTHE CONSUMPTION OF YOGURT

Sixteen cases of verotoxin producing escherichia coli (VTEC) O 157:H7 Phage Type 49 infection were identified in the North West of England f rom 1 September to 1 November 1991, eight of whom lived in or around t he same large town. Eleven of the cases were aged 10 years or less, an d five of the affected children developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome. A case control study demonstrated a strong association between VTEC O 157:H7 PT 49 infection and the consumption of a locally produced live yoghurt. This is the first time that an outbreak of VTEC O 157 infect ion has been linked to the consumption of yoghurt and this vehicle of infection should be considered when investigating such outbreaks in fu ture.