Reducing E. coli 0157 Risk in Rural Communities

Project Status: Completed
Type of Project: Research Project
Principal Investigator: Dr Norval Strachan, University of Aberdeen (Email)

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Publications, Data and Other Outputs

Objectives

This project brings together researchers working in geography, sociology, economics, medicine, microbiology, ecology and food science to consider how we can reduce the risk of people in rural communities in the UK becoming infected with Escherichia coli O157. As is apparent from recent outbreaks in both Scotland and Wales, E. coli O157 disease can have a devastating impact on the lives of individuals (often children) and their families in rural communities.

However, we lack knowledge and understanding about the factors which determine the numbers and spread of such human food-borne pathogens in rural and agricultural environments. The pathogens mainly enter the food chain from faecal contamination of meat products, but there are an increasing number of outbreaks linked to direct contact with contaminated water, soil and livestock. This project will study the key pathogen E. coli O157, which has been identified by the Food Standards Agency as posing a major risk to human health. It is also a threat to visitors and tourists in countryside areas. The research will provide information to ensure rural policies minimise the risks to rural communities from E. coli O157.

Through six integrated work packages, we will address a number of key science-led questions, such as why do farm workers appear to less likely to be infected than people living in towns? Is it linked to long-term, but low level exposure? We know E. coli O157 survives for long periods in the farm environment, but after this time is it still able to cause disease to humans? Which farm factors pose the greatest risk to human and animal (re)infection?. And a number of social science led questions e.g. how is E. coli O157 risk seen, communicated and managed by stakeholder groups? How much does E. coli O157 human infection cost the UK and what would any socially acceptable measures to minimise risk cost?

Two case study, rural areas have been chosen - one with a high incidence of human O157 infection (the Grampian Region of NE Scotland) and the other with a relatively low incidence (North Wales). Both have been studied by the research team already and a number of strong networks exist for surveying and studying key groups such as farmers, contractors, slaughterhouses, butchers, caterers, and other rural stakeholder groups.

Our six work packages correspond with the six major objectives of the study:
1 Understand awareness, attitudes and behaviour of rural stakeholders to E. coli O157 risk.
2 Study links between survival of this pathogen and its carriage, often without disease, within rural communities.
3 Investigate if the pathogen can still be infective to humans (and cattle) after long term survival in the environment.
4 Identify the costs of ways to reduce infection levels of E. coli O157 in rural areas.
5 Determine if the economic and social costs are acceptable to stakeholders.
6 Produce detailed risk management strategies on rural E. coli O157 infection for government policy.

Although the research focuses on E. coli O157, our findings and conclusions will also be generally applicable to the risk associated with many other disease causing human pathogens in the UK rural environment.