Bacterial Gastro Warning

Hunter New England Health is encouraging the community to be wary of a rare but dangerous cause of bacterial gastroenteritis following three cases in the Hunter in the past few weeks.

The gastroenteritis has been caused by Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria.

One person developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) – a combination of anaemia and kidney failure.

The symptoms of STEC infection include:

• diarrhoea that may have blood in it
• abdominal cramps
• nausea and vomiting

Symptoms can last five to 10 days. Symptoms can be severe in children, the elderly and people with reduced immunity.

If HUS results from the STEC infection, symptoms may include bruising or a rash of fine red spots, reduced urination and disturbed consciousness.

Other complications can develop following HUS, including long-term kidney damage, high blood pressure and seizures.

STEC is carried by animals, such as cattle. People are infected when they come into contact with the faeces of an infected animal or person, either directly or indirectly.

The most important ways of preventing infection with STEC is through cooking all meat thoroughly, washing hands thoroughly after coming in contact with animals or their faeces or after handling raw meat, and washing raw vegetables or fruits carefully before eating them – especially fruit that comes in contact with the ground such as strawberries, rockmelons, spinach and tomatoes.

STEC can be spread through:
• consuming contaminated food (e.g. undercooked burgers, unwashed salad vegetables, and unpasteurised milk or milk products)
• drinking or swimming in contaminated water
• person-to-person contact, for example contact with faeces of an infected child when changing a nappy
• person-to-animal contact on farms or petting zoos, for example contact with cattle that carry the infection.

People with bloody diarrhoea should see their general practitioner or visit their local emergency department for assessment.

Contact: Tanya Carlyle

Phone: 0428 112 028