A. Caprioli et al., COMMUNITY-WIDE OUTBREAK OF HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME-ASSOCIATED WITH NON-0157 VEROCYTOTOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA-COLI, The Journal of infectious diseases, 169(1), 1994, pp. 208-211
From 20 April through 13 May 1992, 9 children were hospitalized with h
emolytic-uremic syndrome in Lombardia, Italy, where only 14 cases of t
his syndrome had occurred in the preceding 4 years. Cases were scatter
ed in a large area encompassing five provinces, and the source of the
outbreak was not identified. Eight patients needed dialysis, and there
was 1 death. Seven of the 9 cases were examined for evidence of infec
tion by Vero cytotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Six chi
ldren had serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide of E. coli O111,
and a VT-producing E. coli O111:NM was isolated from stool in 1 case.
This is the first outbreak of VTEC infection recognized in Italy and t
he first associated with an E. coli serotype other than O157:H7.