Midleton crèche closed after outbreak of E.coli

A Co Cork crèche has been temporarily closed because of a likely case of E.coli infection in a toddler.

First Steps in Midleton, which caters for children from the age of three months and which also runs an after-school service, was shut as a precaution against the spread of Verotoxigenci E.coli (VTEC).

VTEC is a strain of E.coli that can lead to a severe gut infection with bloody diarrhoea. In extreme cases, it can cause kidney failure.

The Mill Rd crèche has about 85 children on its books, 15 staff, and two student workers. All will have to be tested for infection.

Parents were notified by letter of a “probable” case on Friday. The crèche is likely to remain closed until all children and staff have been tested and shown to be clear of infection. The source of infection has not yet been identified.

Crèche owner Rosaleen Cotter said environmental health officers had inspected the premises.

“We were told it can be very hard to identify the source, unless there is an outbreak, which it doesn’t look like. There is still only one confirmed case.”

Ms Cotter said the HSE indicated the crèche would be closed for at least a week because of the time involved in getting test results back.

One parent whose child attends the crèche said that while their first concern was for the child with the infection, they were also concerned for their own child. “Our first concern is to find out where this came from so it can be dealt with and the crèche can re-open. Our second concern is child-minding.”

VTEC comprises bacteria found in the intestines of many healthy farm animals. It produces a toxin that can result in a serious form of gastroenteritis in humans.

For a human to be infected, the bug has to be swallowed, which can happen by consuming contaminated food or drink. The bug can then be passed from human to human.

Contamination of children’s hands can allow the bacteria to spread when they share toys or play together. The HSE said careful hand-washing was the key to preventing the spread of this infection.

In 2012, there were 150 notifications of VTEC infection in the HSE South (Cork & Kerry) region. Just under 40% of those were children under five years. This year to date, there have been five notifications, none involving a childcare facility.