CDC reviewing state programs following fatal E. coli outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct a comprehensive review of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s infectious disease programs following an E. coli outbreak at a Greenwood day care in May.

The bacteria can cause vomiting, bloody diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). A Greenwood 2-year-old died after contracting HUS in May.

The bacteria was spread person-to-person, not by contaminated food, another common method of transmission.

Inconsistent hygeine practices could have spread the bacteria, which exits the body through feces. Surfaces can become contaminated with the bacteria and it can be inadvertently consumed by others, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell.

The CDC review will evaluate DHEC’s investigation into the E. coli outbreak as well as the agency’s overall infectious disease programs, “to ensure that best practices are followed,” according to a DHEC release. The review is expected to take several months.

Working with the CDC to review a revent investigation isn’t unusual, according to DHEC Director Catherine Heigel, but this is the first time the agency has asked the CDC to perform an overall review of this kind.

“It’s something as an agency we have not done before,” Heigel said.

Heigel, who was confirmed by the S.C. Senate in June, said part of the desire for the CDC review came from her status as a new director of the agency.

“I want to make sure that we are doing the best that we can and that we’re as transparent as possible in this process,” Heigel said. “Coming in new to the agency, I want to make sure we’re evaluating the operation.”

The agency’s infectious disease programs have the potential to have the most impact on South Carolina residents, Heigel said. DHEC has investigated more than 550 outbreaks and more than 73,000 individual disease reports in the last 18 months.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 8:00 PM.