It’s made on behalf of the tens of thousands of people who have already suffered E. coli O157:H7 poisoning and the millions more who will be afflicted by it in the future. It is made because new research convincingly demonstrates that even people with so-called “mild” cases of E. coli O157:H7 – those thought to have made a full recovery –  have a dramatically increased lifetime risk of hypertension, kidney impairment and cardiovascular disease. This ground-breaking research shows that  E. coli O157:H7 patients require extensive annual medical evaluations and testing to “to prevent or reduce silent progressive vascular injury.”

In response to this research, we are calling for the following:

1. We are calling on the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to immediately post this research on its websites and convene an appropriate panel to evaluate these data and implement guidance in light of them.
2. We are also calling on food companies responsible for E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks — including past outbreaks — to responsibly notify their customers about these newly identified risks and treatment needs.  As the entities that should have prevented these illnesses from occurring in the first place, it is only appropriate that they fully pay for the needed medical care.

The findings of Dr. Clark and his co-authors are contained in the British Medical Journal article published on November 17, 2010 entitled Long term risk for hypertension, renal impairment, and cardiovascular disease after gastroenteritis from drinking water contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7: a prospective cohort study. The complete article is available free at http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c6020.full.pdf.

In summary, people who suffer E. coli O157:H7 poisoning but do not go on to develop the rarer and much more serious complication, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), nevertheless have a 33% greater risk of hypertension and a more than two-fold increase in cardiovascular events as reported as congestive heart failure, heart attack or stroke. They also face more than a three-fold increase in the occurrence of both structural and functional kidney impairment, compared to a non-exposed comparison population.

The study authors recommend that any individual who has suffered gastroenteritis as a result of E..coli O157:H7 exposure should have an annual assessment by a physician and a blood pressure measurement coupled with a urinanalysis, serum creatinine value and micro albumin :creatinine ratio to determine if they have hypertension and/or if they have structural or functional kidney impairment. Certainly any cardiovascular complaints would also be recorded with appropriate risk factor investigation with subsequent modification by exercise, diet and medications. Individuals who had definite E. coli O157 H:7 gastroenteritis, in view of their potential cardiovascular risks, would likely warrant low dose ASA prophylaxis if there are no other contraindications. Those detected with hypertension will require specific anti-hypertensive treatment  including a low salt diet, medications and a BP monitor for home recording and long term follow-up to make sure their blood pressure reaches their target (if they have evidence of renal impairment the target is 130/70 and without renal impairment the target would be 130/80).

If any patients have micro albuminuria or proteinuria not  previously detected, then the use of an ACE Inhibitor, an ARB or an anti-renin to reduce their protein excretion rate (if it exceeds 0.5Gm on 24hour quantification)  with follow-up by annual 24 hour urine protein or a microalbumin: creatinine ratio. Identifying individuals with high blood pressure can prevent many of the future vascular complications and if they already have structural and or functional  kidney impairment consideration should be given to initiating an ACE Inhibitor,  angiotensin receptor blocker or anti-renin agent to reduce the proteinuria as well as to control their blood pressure.

To contact our law firm for more information, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form.

Keep in mind that the federal government bans E. coli O157:H7 from ground beef, but no similar prohibition or mandatory testing protocols are in place for bison.

GOLDEN, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A woman from Lakewood, Colorado, who was hospitalized for an infection of E. coli O157:H7 after eating bison meat has filed a lawsuit against Rocky Mountain Natural Meats, Inc. of Henderson, Colorado, the processor of the meat.

The woman is represented by Pritzker Olsen law firm in the lawsuit filed by local counsel on July 8, 2010, in Jefferson County District Court. According to the complaint, the woman purchased the bison product at a King Soopers grocery store in Lakewood, Colorado.

Health officials used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to confirm that the strain of E. coli that infected the woman was genetically indistinguishable from a strain isolated from other people in Colorado. According to the complaint, health officials then concluded that the woman was part of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to Rocky Mountain Natural Meats bison meat that now has six confirmed cases, five in Colorado and one in New York.

“This outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to bison meat is a wake-up call,” said Fred Pritzker, the attorney representing the E. coli victim. “In the past and currently, bison meat has not been subject to the same E. coli O157:H7 testing requirements as ground beef. Many people assume that bison meat is safer than beef, but that reputation needs to be re-examined.”

In response to the outbreak investigation, Rocky Mountain Natural Meats recalled 66,000 pounds of ground buffalo and bison steaks on July 2 that it said may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium that is banned in ground beef. The recalled meat was sold under the following brands: Great Range, Nature’s Rancher, The Buffalo Guys and Rocky Mountain Natural Meats.

“This outbreak and subsequent recall were preventable,” stated Pritzker. “It is in the best interest of consumers and the bison industry to require E. coli testing for bison products.”

Pritzker Olsen law firm represents individuals and families nationwide in cases involving foodborne illness. Attorney Fred Pritzker can be reached at 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL FREE). For more information, please see www.pritzkerlaw.com or foodpoisoning.pritzkerlaw.com. Pritzker Olsen offices are located at Plaza VII, Suite 2950, 45 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesot