County health officials say negative test result doesn’t clear caterer in E. coli outbreak

State test results of lettuce thought to be linked to an outbreak of E. Coli infections in St. Louis County have come back negative, but officials say a caterer’s food is still on their radar.

Health officials have reported that 106 people, including students from Rockwood Summit High School and adults from the community, have been confirmed as outbreak patients. The patients attended five separate events catered by Andre’s Banquet Center. Patients attended two school band events, two funerals and a veterans event catered by the business.

When the outbreak was first reported on Nov. 14 there were 14 patients.

Tests run by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services detected no traces of E. coli in an unopened package of iceberg lettuce collected at Andre’s Banquet Center. However, the business is not yet in the clear.

“A negative test result for the lettuce does not conclusively rule out the salad as the source of the E. coli outbreak,” according to a statement from the St. Louis County Health Department said. 

“This is because bacteria like E. coli often occur in isolated pockets within food products, making it possible for a sampling event to miss the pathogen entirely . . . A negative result does not necessarily indicate the absence of the bacteria or eliminate Andre’s as a potential source.”

As of Nov. 21, county hospitals reported that two of the outbreak patients had developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a rare but serious disease that can occur as a complication of an E. coli infection. The disease affects the body’s blood clotting system and can lead to kidney failure.

John Armengol Jr., owner of Andre’s, released a statement following the announcement of the negative test result:

“While I am relieved to learn of the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory’s negative test results, I will continue to cooperate with the state and local health departments as they now work to determine the source of E. coli that has caused illnesses in the region and which has resulted in individuals who did not attend any events affiliated with Andre’s contracting E Coli.”

The county health director said the source of the E. Coli was not from a school cafeteria.

“One thing I can say is it’s not a cafeteria-related event,” St. Louis County Health Director Kanika Cunningham said. “It was an off-site event, and we’re working with that particular entity and working with that location to identify the source.”

Even though health department officials have said the school is not the source of the E. coli, school district officials have had the school cleaned and sanitized, with special attention to doorknobs and other high-touch items.

Three parents of high school students are suing the catering company. A fourth lawsuit has been filed by an adult who ate at one of the events and later tested positive for E. coli.

About E. coli infections
Anyone who has attended any off-campus events or other events catered by Andre’s Banquet Service and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

Food contaminated with E. coli will not look, smell or taste spoiled.

The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor. 

Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients. 

People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems. 

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/11/county-health-officials-say-negative-test-result-doesnt-clear-caterer-in-e-coli-outbreak/