Health officials are focusing on a home child-care facility as the possible source of an aggressive type of E. coli bacteria that killed a 3-year-old Aurora boy.
Several other children cared for at the facility have had mild gastrointestinal illness, said Dr. Richard Vogt, executive director of the Tri-County Health Department.
“That’s why we are trying to gather stool samples from the children who attended the facility in the last month and a half,” Vogt said.
The boy, whom officials declined to identify, died Friday after his kidneys shut down, Vogt said. He developed symptoms a few days before his death. “He was hospitalized in a timely fashion,” he said.
The child-care operator had 10 children in her home at one time, Vogt said, although a total of 21 children have been periodically cared for in the home in the past six weeks.
Vogt declined to name the facility and the operator while the investigation continues.
The facility, which is not licensed, is no longer in operation. “We convinced the operator that it was in her best interest to close down,” Vogt said, adding she has been cooperative.
Vogt said health and human- services officials planned an “extensive visit” Tuesday to the Aurora home to see what deficiencies may exist.
Human services will assess whether the facility should be licensed. State law requires people who care for two or more unrelated children in their home to be licensed.
“We have contacted all of the families,” he said. “If parents are worried about their children, they’re not involved if they haven’t been called.”
E. coli — Escherichia coli — normally are harmless bacteria that live in the intestines of humans and animals. If ingested, some strains can cause serious complications, particularly in children and the elderly.
The type of E. coli identified in the 3-year-old boy is 0157:H7. “It’s much less common than the garden-variety E. coli,” Vogt said.
The type has been linked with outbreaks of illnesses, such as those caused by undercooked hamburger that has been contaminated with cattle feces in the slaughtering process.
Vegetables and fruits washed in contaminated water also may carry E. coli.
Child-care facilities, particularly those where diapers are changed, have been noted as being sources of E. coli infection.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
