Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak associated with an improperly chlorinated swimming pool

Abstract

A cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses, including one case of hemolytic-uremic syndrome and one culture-confirmed Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection, followed a trailer park pool party. We interviewed a cohort of party attendees and park residents. A primary case was defined as the first gastrointestinal illness within a household between 5 July and 20 July in which the titer of IgG antibody to E. coli O157 (if determined) was elevated. Of 51 party attendees and trailer park residents, 18 developed a gastrointestinal illness, including 10 who met the definition of a primary case. Swimming in the pool significantly increased the risk of primary illness (relative risk = 6.3; 95% confidence interval = 1.8-18.9). No other exposure was significantly associated with primary illness, after pool exposure was controlled for. The implicated pool had little to no chlorine added during the period of 4-10 July. This outbreak provides new evidence of the importance of proper pool maintenance in controlling the spread of E. coli O157:H7.