Actually, colored poop is just one of a rainbow of potential applications for E. chromi, an engineered strain of E. coli that secretes color in the presence of pollutants. E. coli bacteria are sensitive to environmental pollutants. When the team of artists and scientists equipped them with a pigment-producing device that switches on in the presence of various toxins, they  created a way to use bacteria as an inexpensive, user-friendly biosensor.

Potential applications include a cheap disposable biosensor for arsenic and probiotic drink that would alert patients to possible ailments by coloring their poop. A purple output, for example,  may indicate the presence of a Salmonella infection.

E. chromi won MIT’s International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition in 2009, was a finalist for the 2011 Index Awards, and a winner of the 2011 World Technology Awards. Although it may sound unusual, this isn’t the only example of a bacterial biosensor. Scientists at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) recently  attached a fluorescent protein to some E.coli and synchronized the colony to flash on and off like a neon sign. When the blinking colony detected low levels of arsenic, it slowed its rate of flashing.

Ten swabs taken from various surfaces at the facility tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Two of them had the same, identical DNA fingerprint of the strain that sickened the kids. The results were relayed to farm officials in a letter from the California Department of Public Health that became public this week. An offical at the farm was quoted by the Associated Press as saying they accept the findings but are puzzled by the location of the germs — away from milk production areas.
The Organic Pastures E. coli outbreak prompted state officials last year to quarantine the operation’s raw milk products for about a month. All five children had consumed raw, unpasteurized milk from the company, which made the farm the likely source of the outbreak. The quarantine was lifted December 16 after sanitation requirements were fulfilled.
Raw milk has been found to contain numerous pathogens that can cause serious illness, including Campylobacter, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Yersinia and Brucella and the bacteria that cause bovine tuberculosis. Pasteurization was developed many years ago as a way to reduce diseases that were commonly caused by raw milk, but the practice of selling raw milk has continued at great risk to consumers.
If your child has been diagnosed with a an E. coli infection after drinking Organic Pastures raw milk, you may have a claim against Organic Pastures for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other damages. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.

At least seven people who dined at the restaurant in late December have confirmed cases of E. coli poisoning, four of them have been hospitalized, according to the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.

Health officials have determined that the likely source of the outbreak was a food-handler at the restaurant who was ill. They are urging anyone who  became ill with bloody diarrhea in late December or early January to contact the health department.

The bacteria E.coli  can cause serious sometimes fatal infections if ingested. Symptoms of an E.coli infection include severe abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Young children, the elderly, or those who are immunocompromised are most at risk. In roughly 8 percent of cases, patients develop Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) a condition that causes kidney failure and requires hospitalization for treatment which can include dialysis and transfusions.

If you have legal questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak, contact the foodborne illness attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for free consultation. A toll free number is also available: 1(888) 377-8900.

In some cases, between 5 and 10 percent,  those diagnosed with an STEC infection, develop a potentially life threatening complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) and require hospitalization becasue of potential kidney failure. HUS usually effects children under 10, but it can also effect adolescents and adults. HUS usually runs its course within 15 days, but it can lead to serious long-term illness including:

Kidney Failure

HUS is the leading cause of kidney failure in children. Impaired urine production during HUS can lead to long-term health consequences including chronic kidney impairment.

Neurological Damage

During the acute stage of HUS, patients can experience seizures, stroke or coma. These can cause long-lasting or permanent neurological damage.

Diabetes

During the acute phase of HUS, patients can develop diabetes, which can persist over the long term.

Gastro-intestinal problems

HUS patients are at risk of developing  gall stones, irritable bowel syndrome, or experiencing a narrowing of the small intestine or colon.

 If you have questions about an illness or hospitalization associated with this outbreak, contact the attorneys at PritzkerOlsen P.A. for a free consultation.

E. coli lawyer Fred Pritzker is investigating The Ambassador restaurant E. coli outbreak that sickened at least seven people, including four who were hospitalized. The infected customers ate at the restaurant around Christmas. Others who became ill with diarrhea after eating at the restaurant are encouraged to report their experience to an attorney or the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.

E. coli O157:H7, the pathogen transmitted by the restaurant worker, is a potentially deadly bacterium that causes hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Both of these diseases shut down a person’s kidneys and can lead to other severe illness, including strokes, anemia, heart attack and paralysis.

A study on file with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that transmission of pathogens from food workers to the food they handle is implicated as a contributing factor in approximately 20 percent of foodborne illness outbreaks. The study authors interviewed food workers in nine states and found that 12 percent of them had worked while suffering from vomiting or diarrhea on two or more shifts in the previous year. Factors associated with workers having worked while experiencing vomiting or diarrhea were:

1. High volume of meals served.
2. Lack of policies requiring workers to report illness to managers.
3. Lack of on-call workers.
4. Lack of manager experience.

The findings of this study and others suggest that policies that encourage workers to tell managers when they are ill can help mitigate pressures to work.

Regulations vary with jurisdictions, but it is the responsibility of restaurant owners to train staff members to stay away from work while they are sick. In cases where the workers are confirmed to be infected with E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella or Hepatitis A, they should be tested by a health care provider before they are cleared to return to work.

Any Ambassador E. coli lawsuit stemming from this outbreak will examine what policies were in place at the restaurant and whether reporting mandates from the local or state health departments were followed.

If you or a loved on was sickened in this outbreak, call Mr. Pritzker at 1-888-377-8900 or leave your contact information and he or another attorney from the firm will call you. The law firm he founded, Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, is one of the very few legal groups in the country practicing extensively in the area of foodborne illness litigation. We have collected millions for victims of restaurant outbreaks and have represented Michigan and Wisconsin clients in numerous cases. Our law firm does not charge its clients until a claim is won for them.

The Ambassador’s outbreak was announced by Dr. Terry Frankovich, an area medical director. The public health investigation is being conducted by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, she said, and officials suspect others could have become ill and not realized they were part of an outbreak.

The Ambassador has remained open for business and has been working in cooperation with authorities. E. coli O157:H7 is a feared pathogen that can cause life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which happens in about 8 percent of cases. HUS victims lose kidney function and often require blood transfusions. HUS also can cause stroke, heart attack, attacks on the central nervous system and severe anemia.
Studies have shown that even mild E. coli infections can carry negative health reprecussions throughout a person’s life. A good E. coli lawyer will seek claim compensation full enough to fairly cover victims for all past and future harms.

If you or a loved one has been sickened in this outbreak, contact Pritzker Olsen for a free case consultation by leaving your contact information or calling 1-888-377-8900 (Toll Free). A State Fair E. coli lawsuit will consider why the safety and well-being of children and others was not adequately protected.
Pritzker Olsen is a national food safety law firm with many years of experience in outbreak investigations and E. coli litigation. We have won tens of millions of dollars over the years for those who have been harmed by negligence. Our firm also is actively involved in multiple efforts to prevent the spread of pathogens that cause foodborne illness. Outbreaks are preventable and legal action, in our experience, is a meaningful agent for systematic change.