VERO CYTOTOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA-COLI O157 INFECTIONS IN AUSTRIA

To determine the prevalence of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia co li (VTEC) serotype O157 associated diarrhea in the Austrian patient po pulation, we surveyed all stool specimens of liquid consistency submit ted to the Federal Public Health Laboratory (FPHL) in Innsbruck for 2 years for this organism. This laboratory serves a population of approx imately 1 Million people. Of 5,265 stool specimens, 7 yielded O157 VTE C. Five isolates of E. coli O157 phage type 32, VT2 were cultured from specimens received during a three day period from residents in the co unty of Schwaz. During the investigation of this >>outbreak<< E. coli O157 strains were also isolated from two householdcontacts. Only 1 out of 8 persons with E. coli O157 diarrhea had bloody stools, although 5 of 7 tested specimens (= 71%) also yielded Campylobacter jejuni. None of our patients received antimicrobial therapy directed against E. co li O157 (one child had josamycin). There were no fatalities and no cas es of hemolytic uremic syndrome (follow up period: 6 months). Consumpt ion of hamburger, roast beef, and unpasteurized milk was not confirmed in this study. In Austria, no O157 VTEC strain was isolated till June 1992, although at the FPHL in Innsbruck stool specimens of liquid con sistency were cultured for this organism since January 1991.