Colorado Toddler Dies from E. coli O157:H7 Infection
A 3-year-old Aurora, Colorado boy died from an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Health officials are focusing their investigation on the toddler’s child-care facility, an unlicensed home day care:
Health officials are focusing on a home child-care facility as the possible source of an aggressive type of E. coli bacteria that killed a 3-year-old Aurora boy.
Several other children cared for at the facility have had mild gastrointestinal illness, said Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department.
"That's why we are trying to gather stool samples from the children who attended the facility in the last month and a half," Vogt said.
The boy, whom officials declined to identify, died Friday after his kidneys shut down, Vogt said. He developed symptoms a few days before his death. "He was hospitalized in a timely fashion," he said. (Denver Post)
Home child-care facilities are responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitary facility. E. coli is spread through food, water, animal contact or person-to-person contact. Although there are a number of different ways E. coli can spread, the underlying source is feces. Only a very small amount (100-200 bacterium) of E. coli O157:H7 is needed to cause disease.
“Because young children often put their hands and toys in their mouths, home child-care facilities can quickly become hot zones for E. coli O157:H7,” stated Fred Pritzker, nationally-recognized food safety lawyer.
The best way for day care workers to prevent the spread of E. coli O157:H7 is to wash their hands. Bacteria can easily hide under a fingernail or anywhere on the hand that was not thoroughly washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. It is especially important that day care workers wash their hands after using the restroom, changing a diaper, preparing food, or feeding a child.
Other basic sanitation measures that home child-care facilities should maintain include the following: 1) clean and disinfect diapering area and potty chairs after each use; 2) clean toilets, sinks and toys at least daily; 3) cook all hamburger and ground beef until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit; 4) do not allow children to drink unpasteurized milk or fruit juices; 5) wash and disinfect all cutting boards, knives, utensils and dishes that have been used for raw meat or poultry before using them with fresh produce and other uncooked foods; and 6) do not let children serve or prepare food for other children.
