Health. Increase in E. coli and Listeria infections in Europe: How can this be explained?

In a press release published on June 5, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned of significant increases in E. coli and Listeria infections in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) in 2023. Whether E. coli infections or listeriosis, the numbers have never been this high since surveillance began in the European Union in 2007.

Children under five are the most vulnerable to E. coli

As a reminder, Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) is a bacterium naturally present in the digestive tract of humans and warm-blooded animals. But some of them release toxins: these are the so-called enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains .

They can cause very serious infections, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition leading to progressive kidney failure.

10,901 cases were confirmed in 30 EU/EEA countries in 2023, an increase of 22% compared to 2022 and an annual rate of 3.2 per 100,000. However, the number of HUS cases has stabilized at around 500 cases, after an already record level in 2022.

STEC infection is transmitted primarily through contaminated food and water, or through direct contact with infected people or animals. It can cause severe gastroenteritis, enterocolitis, and bloody diarrhea, and in some cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Children under five years of age are most affected.

Listeriosis, a disease associated with serious complications

Regarding the number of cases of listeriosis, 2,993 have been recorded, including 340 deaths. Most healthy adults exposed to the bacteria do not develop symptoms. However, the invasive form of the disease can lead to serious consequences in at-risk populations.

Listeriosis mainly affects the elderly, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems.

The disease is associated with serious complications, including meningitis, brain infections, and life-threatening bloodstream infections. It is one of the most serious foodborne illnesses under European surveillance.

How can such increases be explained?

The increase in the number of reported cases of ECDC infection could, but only partly, be attributed to " laboratory diagnostic tests that are more sensitive than traditional methods and allow for broader analyses, beyond specific patient groups or symptom types," the ECDC said.

As for listeriosis, "the increase in the elderly population, as well as changes in eating habits, including the increased consumption of ready-to-eat foods, could contribute to this upward trend." As a reminder, Listeria monocytogenes has been recognized as a biological hazard in the food industry since 1982. It has the capacity to contaminate ready-to-eat foods and food manufacturing sites, leading to numerous food recalls and withdrawals.

The ECDC reminds us of basic hygiene rules:

• good hygiene practices in food production and handling, particularly in environments involving animals;
• proper food preparation , including washing and peeling vegetables, properly cooking meat, and using pasteurized dairy products;
• public awareness of hand hygiene, especially for children visiting educational farms and zoos, to avoid EHEC infections;
• raising awareness among vulnerable populations about listeriosis and risky foods, such as ready-to-eat fish and meat.