OUTBREAKS OF FOOD POISONING IN ADULTS DUE TO ESCHERICHIA-COLI O111 AND CAMPYLOBACTER ASSOCIATED WITH COACH TRIPS TO NORTHERN FRANCE

Thirty-seven out of 48 people on a coach excursion to northern France developed gastrointestinal symptoms within 4 days of the trip. Twenty- six had stool samples positive for Escherichia coli O111, 8 were also positive for Campylobacter species, and 1 was positive for campylobact er alone. Strains of E. coil were positive for the effacing and attach ing protein (eaeA) gene, but negative for other E. coli virulence gene s, and: therefore belonged to the enteropathogenic E. coil (EPEC) grou p. Twenty-two out of 37 people in a second party which followed the sa me itinerary 2 weeks later also became ill. One had a stool sample pos itive for E. coil O111. Analytical epidemiology suggested that the sou rce of infections was a restaurant in northern France at which both pa rties had eaten.