Foodborne Gastroenteritis Caused by Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli was established as a foodborne pathogen in 1971 when imported cheeses turned up in 14 American states that were contaminated with an enteroinvasive strain that caused illness in nearly 400 individuals. Prior to 1971, at least five foodborne outbreaks were reported in other countries, with the earliest being from England in 1947. As a human pathogen, evidence suggests that it was recognized as a cause of infant diarrhea as early as the 1700s.⁶⁰ Since the meatborne outbreaks in the United States of 1982 and 1993, the status of this bacterium as a foodborne pathogen is unquestioned. Escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination is discussed in Chapter 20, culture and isolation methods are covered in Chapter 10, and molecular and bioassay methods for its detection are covered in Chapters 11 and 12. For a more detailed history of E. coli 0157:H7, see reference 69.