. .. 2011 Georgia Data Summary Georgia Department of Public Health STEC Quick Fact: STEC Infections are commonly associated with ground beef, but Illnesses and outbreaks In recent years have occurred after eating fresh produce Items. OVERVIEW Some kinds of E. coli cause illness by producing a toxin . The bacteria that make these toxins are called "Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or STEC for short. Infection is often characterized by bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal cramping , vomiting and sometimes fever. The most common serogroup is 0157 . However, there are other serogroups including 026 , 045, 0103 and 0111. INCIDENCE In 2011 , 120 cases of culture-confirmed STEC* were reported , for a rate of 1.24/100 ,000 persons (Figure 1). Of those 120 cases , 29 were E. coli 0157 for a rate of 0.30/100 ,000 persons (Figure 2). While the majority of STEC cases occur in metropolitan areas, the highest rates of disease are seen in rural counties (Figure 3) . Although the incidence of E.coli 0157 has remained relatively stable over time , the incidence of STEC cases overall has been increasing . This may be due to the increase in the number of labs with shiga-toxin testing capabilities. SURVEILLANCE All Georgia physicians, laboratories and other health care providers are required by law to report both labconfirmed and clinical diagnoses of cases of STEC to the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) . Cultures should be sent to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for confirmation, serogroup determination , and DNA fingerprinting . TOP SEROGROUPS IN GEORGIA, 2011 Serogroup 1 0157 2 026 3 0103 4 0111 5 0118 6 0145 # % 29 59 19 16 14 12 8 7 7 6 3 3 Culture independent diagnostic testing (ClOT) methods have become more commonly used by laboratories and are defined as reportable cases. Active Surveillance for Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli is conducted through FoodNet, a component of the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) . For more information , please visit: );> http://dph .georgia.gov/EIP );> http://www.cdc .gov/food neU Figure 1. 1 20 100 :~ "" v 60 20 STEC C a~ e t; a nQ R a te~ 1 .2 1 g 0.8 ~ 0 .6 ~ i 0 .4 0 .2 0 *i ncludes 0157 , non-0157 serogroups, and STEC positive cultures from which no bacteria was recovered Figure 2. E.coli 0157 Cases and Rates ~ ~/ / " \ _/ 10 Q1 200 1 2.002 20CO 200-4 2005 2000 2007 2008 2009 20 1rJ 2011 Georgia Department of Public Health- 2 Peachtree Street, NW - Atlanta, GA 30303 - (404) 657-2588- http://dph.georgia.gov Figure 3. Rates of Confirmed STEC Cases'" GA 2011 ,......., ,.., l 2f1~ .:, ... ,. ...,,11 :--..~~at<.~' -.....:1"1 " ..: - -..:> rr- : ,~- .. ..<.;.,-~.o;.~.r.""""",'.,'.",.".",''.'..r.',.~.~.,u...,. ,.8T ''it~ DEMOGRAPHICS In 2011 , of the 120 reported culture-confirmed cases with known race and ethnicity, 79% of cases were White , 12% of cases were Black. Also , 15% of cases were of Hispanic ethnicity. STEC infections are more commonly reported in young children (Figure 4). Figure 4. 2011 STEC Cases by Age Group and Gender 140 120 100 ~ tiU v bU 10 l flMAl[ I MAlE