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Home » Food Poisoning » Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome Lawyer
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious condition affecting the blood and blood vessels in the body. HUS largely results from the abnormal destruction of red blood cells and platelets by bacterial virulence factors like Shiga toxin.[1] Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) release their toxins in the intestinal tract where the bloodstream absorbs the Shiga toxin. The toxin circulates throughout the blood system targeting red blood cells, endothelial cells, and platelets. Damaged red blood cells and platelets clog filtering units in the kidneys. The complications of HUS can include damage to the kidneys leading to proteinuria, dehydration, and renal failure. In many cases, dialysis is required, and in extremely serious cases, one or more kidney transplants are required.
By far the most common cause of HUS is Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli food borne illness, though there are some exceptions:
Contracting an infection or illness like HUS from something that you eat can be frightening. It is a serious illness that in almost every case requires hospitalization and can lead to even long lasting complications. Unfortunately, in the many cases that are due to foodborne related infections, the ultimate cause is a failure to follow “routine” food preparation, handling, and storage guidelines – a failure that allows fecal matter (by far the most common carrier of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli) into the food.
The simple fact is that Shiga toxin-producing E. coli does not accidently get into food. There are numerous quality controls and regulations that have been set in place to ensure, in fact, that this does not happen. In fact, all restaurants and food manufactures or distributors have a duty to comply with industry standards as well as all applicable health regulations, both state and federal. These include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices Regulations, 21 C.F.R. part 110, subparts (A)-(G),[5] and all statutory and regulatory provisions that apply to the manufacture, distribution, storage, and/or sale of the food or its ingredients, including but not limited to, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, § 402(a),[6] as codified at 21 U.S.C. § 342(a), which bans the manufacture, sale and distribution of any “adulterated” food. In fact, most states also have a food, drug and cosmetic act that prohibit the same thing.
When Ron Simon & Associates takes a case, one of the first things we do is to look for the breakdown that led to the introduction of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli into the food that was served to the victim. The most common breakdowns include such things as:
These “risk areas” are commonly recognized which is why most responsible food-producing manufacturing companies maintain a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan.[7] The FDA explains a HACCP as: “is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.” [8] A proper HACCP plan is meant to prevent pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, from getting into the food in the first place.
When HUS is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the HUS symptoms will begin with those associated with E. coli gastroenteritis, including one or more of the following: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea (it has a tendency of being bloody), stomach pain or cramps, body aches, headaches, dehydration, and fatigue. The most telling sign, and the one physicians are on the look-out for, is blood in the stool. And while most victims of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli will recover within two to three weeks, according to the CDC, about 5 to 10 percent of people diagnosed with an infection from E. coli O157:H7 develop HUS.[9] In those victims, about a week after the E. coil infection, HUS can surface and have a whole host of symptoms of its’ own, including:
Individuals with heightened susceptibility to HUS after a STEC infection include young children, elderly, and individuals with specific genetic mutations making them more prone to atypical HUS.[11] According to the CDC, those at higher risks from an infection from STEC include “children younger than 5 years and adults aged 65 and older.”[12]
The most worrisome cases are those that present in children, due to their age, inability to understand what is happening, and their life expectancy coupled with the ongoing effects post-HUS resolution.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that children with HUS who have apparently recovered will develop hype1iension, urinary abnormalities and/or renal insufficiency long after their initial recovery.[13] One of the best predictors is the duration of anuria and/or oliguria. In one study of 61 children who were followed for a mean of 9.6 years following the acute episode of HUS (having had dialysis), 52% had proteinuria, 41 % decreased creatinine clearance, and 56% renal sequelae.[14] And in fact, in all children with anuria of 8 or more day’s duration and those with oliguria exceeding 15 days, suffered ongoing chronic disease (100%).[15] In yet another article in Clinical Nephrology (by Gagnadouz, et al, 1996) when 29 children were evaluated 15-25 years after the acute phase of HUS, only 10 of the 29 children were normal, 12 had hypertension, 3 had chronic renal failure and 4 had end stage renal disease (65.5%). Other studies have demonstrated that histological finding of focal and segmental sclerosis and hyalinosis can still be observed several years following HUS, and that only 25% of the children had normal renal function during long term follow-up.[16]
In short, the effects of HUS on children are serious and can last for years or even life. Many of the victims will eventually require a kidney transplant, and those who get a kidney transplant may require a second or third transplant due to complications or rejection by the body.
HUS is itself a complication of E. coli O157:H7 illness, but can easily stem into further health issues. These complications are serious and could, ultimately, be life-altering and life-threatening.
HUS is a serious condition will require an extended hospital stay. The treatment regimen is quite intense and requires ongoing testing and monitoring, though treatment may vary substantially between victims. Due to the varying symptoms brought about by HUS, treatment will vary depending on the patient’s symptoms and kidney function.
Below are some typical treatments:
As noted above, the initial hospitalization and treatments during the acute stage are not the end of the story for many of the victims. Many victims are likely to have a full recovery, even if they required dialysis, within six months. But many more may have lasting kidney issues, post-infectious IBS, high blood pressure, or a myriad other ongoing effects.
Ultimately, people need to take the right steps to prevent this serious condition from happening. The CDC recommends the best way to prevent HUS is to prevent a STEC infection is by avoiding contaminated food and practicing good hygiene. Cleanliness and proper procedures with food storage, cleaning, and preparations are necessary for preventing a STEC infection.[25] Unfortunately, many of these steps are out of the control of the average consumer when purchasing food – consumers rely (rightfully) on the expertise and professionalism of food manufacturers every day. When those food manufacturers or handlers fail to follow industry standards and applicable regulations, consumers can acquire Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and for some of those, HUS.[26]
Ron Simon & Associates has over 50 years in helping victims of food poisoning victims, many who contracted HUS. These cases are complex, and understanding the science and the implications of HUS is vital to prosecuting a case against a food manufacturer or restaurant. Contact our hemolytic uremic syndrome attorneys by calling toll free 1-888.335.4901.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious condition affecting the blood and blood vessels in the body. HUS largely results from the abnormal destruction of red blood cells and platelets by bacterial virulence factors like Shiga toxin.[1] Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) release their toxins in the intestinal tract where the bloodstream absorbs the Shiga toxin. The toxin circulates throughout the blood system targeting red blood cells, endothelial cells, and platelets. Damaged red blood cells and platelets clog filtering units in the kidneys. The complications of HUS can include damage to the kidneys leading to proteinuria, dehydration, and renal failure. In many cases, dialysis is required, and in extremely serious cases, one or more kidney transplants are required.
By far the most common cause of HUS is Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli food borne illness, though there are some exceptions:
Contracting an infection or illness like HUS from something that you eat can be frightening. It is a serious illness that in almost every case requires hospitalization and can lead to even long lasting complications. Unfortunately, in the many cases that are due to foodborne related infections, the ultimate cause is a failure to follow “routine” food preparation, handling, and storage guidelines – a failure that allows fecal matter (by far the most common carrier of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli) into the food.
The simple fact is that Shiga toxin-producing E. coli does not accidently get into food. There are numerous quality controls and regulations that have been set in place to ensure, in fact, that this does not happen. In fact, all restaurants and food manufactures or distributors have a duty to comply with industry standards as well as all applicable health regulations, both state and federal. These include the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practices Regulations, 21 C.F.R. part 110, subparts (A)-(G),[5] and all statutory and regulatory provisions that apply to the manufacture, distribution, storage, and/or sale of the food or its ingredients, including but not limited to, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, § 402(a),[6] as codified at 21 U.S.C. § 342(a), which bans the manufacture, sale and distribution of any “adulterated” food. In fact, most states also have a food, drug and cosmetic act that prohibit the same thing.
When Ron Simon & Associates takes a case, one of the first things we do is to look for the breakdown that led to the introduction of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli into the food that was served to the victim. The most common breakdowns include such things as:
These “risk areas” are commonly recognized which is why most responsible food-producing manufacturing companies maintain a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan.[7] The FDA explains a HACCP as: “is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product.” [8] A proper HACCP plan is meant to prevent pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, from getting into the food in the first place.
When HUS is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the HUS symptoms will begin with those associated with E. coli gastroenteritis, including one or more of the following: vomiting, nausea, diarrhea (it has a tendency of being bloody), stomach pain or cramps, body aches, headaches, dehydration, and fatigue. The most telling sign, and the one physicians are on the look-out for, is blood in the stool. And while most victims of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli will recover within two to three weeks, according to the CDC, about 5 to 10 percent of people diagnosed with an infection from E. coli O157:H7 develop HUS.[9] In those victims, about a week after the E. coil infection, HUS can surface and have a whole host of symptoms of its’ own, including:
Individuals with heightened susceptibility to HUS after a STEC infection include young children, elderly, and individuals with specific genetic mutations making them more prone to atypical HUS.[11] According to the CDC, those at higher risks from an infection from STEC include “children younger than 5 years and adults aged 65 and older.”[12]
The most worrisome cases are those that present in children, due to their age, inability to understand what is happening, and their life expectancy coupled with the ongoing effects post-HUS resolution.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that children with HUS who have apparently recovered will develop hype1iension, urinary abnormalities and/or renal insufficiency long after their initial recovery.[13] One of the best predictors is the duration of anuria and/or oliguria. In one study of 61 children who were followed for a mean of 9.6 years following the acute episode of HUS (having had dialysis), 52% had proteinuria, 41 % decreased creatinine clearance, and 56% renal sequelae.[14] And in fact, in all children with anuria of 8 or more day’s duration and those with oliguria exceeding 15 days, suffered ongoing chronic disease (100%).[15] In yet another article in Clinical Nephrology (by Gagnadouz, et al, 1996) when 29 children were evaluated 15-25 years after the acute phase of HUS, only 10 of the 29 children were normal, 12 had hypertension, 3 had chronic renal failure and 4 had end stage renal disease (65.5%). Other studies have demonstrated that histological finding of focal and segmental sclerosis and hyalinosis can still be observed several years following HUS, and that only 25% of the children had normal renal function during long term follow-up.[16]
In short, the effects of HUS on children are serious and can last for years or even life. Many of the victims will eventually require a kidney transplant, and those who get a kidney transplant may require a second or third transplant due to complications or rejection by the body.
HUS is itself a complication of E. coli O157:H7 illness, but can easily stem into further health issues. These complications are serious and could, ultimately, be life-altering and life-threatening.
HUS is a serious condition will require an extended hospital stay. The treatment regimen is quite intense and requires ongoing testing and monitoring, though treatment may vary substantially between victims. Due to the varying symptoms brought about by HUS, treatment will vary depending on the patient’s symptoms and kidney function.
Below are some typical treatments:
As noted above, the initial hospitalization and treatments during the acute stage are not the end of the story for many of the victims. Many victims are likely to have a full recovery, even if they required dialysis, within six months. But many more may have lasting kidney issues, post-infectious IBS, high blood pressure, or a myriad other ongoing effects.
Ultimately, people need to take the right steps to prevent this serious condition from happening. The CDC recommends the best way to prevent HUS is to prevent a STEC infection is by avoiding contaminated food and practicing good hygiene. Cleanliness and proper procedures with food storage, cleaning, and preparations are necessary for preventing a STEC infection.[25] Unfortunately, many of these steps are out of the control of the average consumer when purchasing food – consumers rely (rightfully) on the expertise and professionalism of food manufacturers every day. When those food manufacturers or handlers fail to follow industry standards and applicable regulations, consumers can acquire Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and for some of those, HUS.[26]
Ron Simon & Associates has over 50 years in helping victims of food poisoning victims, many who contracted HUS. These cases are complex, and understanding the science and the implications of HUS is vital to prosecuting a case against a food manufacturer or restaurant. Contact our hemolytic uremic syndrome attorneys by calling toll free 1-888.335.4901.
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