Analysis of a primary research - Article Example

Purpose of the Study and Hypothesis The purpose of the first study is to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 associated with the consumption of beef tacos at a fast food chain restaurant (Jay, Garrett and Mohle-Boetan 2). The null hypothesis tested in the study is the E. coli 0157:H7 infection is not linked to the ingesting of beef at the restaurants. Another hypothesis tested in the first study was whether E. coli O157:H7 was resistant to meat heat processing. The purpose of the second study is to investigate an outbreak caused by E.

coli O145 in a day care center (Wahl, Vold and Lindstedt 6). The null hypothesis for the second study is the diarrheal outbreak at a day care center was not caused by E. coli O145.Dependent and Independent VariablesIn both studies, the independent variables were demographic and environmental characteristics in both settings while the dependent variable was the presence of either of the E. coli strain in stool samples. There was no multivariate analysis or standardization of variables in both studies.

Methods and Units of MeasurementsThe first study is a case control study and the cases were defined as individuals with laboratory confirmed E. coli 0157:H7 or those with a clinically compatible diagnosis (Jay, Garrett and Mohle-Boetan). The cases were healthy individuals. The second study lacks defined cases and controls (Wahl, Vold and Lindstedt 7). The presence of E. coli in both studies was established by culture and typing and the units of measurement for the concentration of the organism were Colony-Forming Units per milliliter (CFU/ML).

Data ComparisonsIn both studies, statistics on laboratory diagnosis of the different E. coli strains were presented. Positive culture and typing results were used to support the hypothesis on the presence on an outbreak in both studies.Conclusions, Significance and Deficiencies in the StudiesThe outbreaks were caused by the E. coli strains in the two studies. Based on the results of the two studies, the authors recommend routine surveillance in an effort to detect future outbreaks. Although no limitations were identified in the first study, the authors in the second study reported limitations in the study design and results.

Another limitation in the second study was that the symptoms were self-reported; hence, the study was subject to variations between clinical data and what was reported (Wahl, Vold and Lindstedt 8-9).Works CitedJay, Michele T, et al. "A Multistate Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection Linked to Consumption of Beef Tacos at a Fast-Food Restaurant Chain." Clinical Infectious Diseases 39.1 (2004): 1-7.Wahl, Erik , et al. "Investigation of an Escherichia Coli O145 Outbreak In a Child Day-Care Center -Extensive Sampling and Characterization of eae- and stx1-Positive E.

Coli Yields Epidemiological and Socioeconomic Insight." BMC Infectious Diseases 11.238 (2011): 1-12.