Overview of O157 in Pakistan: An Important Food-Borne Disease of Public Health

Abstract

Food-borne microorganisms are the source of 65% of the human food-originating ailments present globally and with the highest load in under-developing nations including Pakistan. Thus, this review focused on the background of E. coli O157, a significant food-borne bacteria which is pathogenic, and its public health perspective in general and particularly in Pakistan. Dairy animals and their products are the chief means of spreading and challenging public health. Dairy products, meat, and eggs are the main items through which the public is vulnerable to E. coli O157, which leads to food-borne illness and consequently death. Virulence and production of toxins are accountable for the pathogenesis of E. coli O157, which are categorized chiefly by gastrointestinal disorders including moderate and severe nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and other species-specific symptoms. Proper hygiene, good manufacturing practices, sanitation in operating procedures of products, by-products, and execution of standardized hazard investigation and critical control points (HACCP) plus pasteurization measures are important approaches for the control and safety of Public Health. In recent times, the emergence of E. coli O157 multidrug-resistant (MDR) related with ingesting of polluted animal originating food products and by-products are a great alarm for public health and should be managed by surveillance and monitoring of E. coli O157, particularly in developing countries including Pakistan.