Special precautions are indicated for food handlers, health care workers, and child
care providers and attendees. These individuals may put multiple other people at risk
of contracting this illness. Food handlers, such as cooks and others who prepare or
touch food, are excluded from food handling until they no longer have symptoms and
they have at least 2 negative stool tests. Health care workers should be excluded
from direct patient care until they no longer have symptoms, and where practical,
they should have 2 negative stool tests before resuming regular duties. In child care
settings, if E. coli 0157:H7 is identified in either a staff member or a child attendee,
stools of all staff, attendees, and household contacts with diarrhea should be tested
even if these people have no symptoms. The local health department should be
advised of these circumstances, and their staff will be glad to provide further
individualized advice to help eliminate the problem.