CLINICAL, MICROBIOLOGICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC ASPECTS OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI O157 INFECTION

In the last decade infections caused by Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and o ther verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) have emerged as a major public h ealth concern in North America and in Europe, and increasingly in othe r areas of the world. Although absolute numbers of infections are low in comparison with other enteric pathogens such as Salmonella or Campy lobacter, it is well-recognised that E. coli 0157 can produce severe, potentially life-threatening, illness. As a consequence of this awaren ess, there has been a rapid expansion of our knowledge about these org anisms and the diseases which they cause. In this article, the clinica l, microbiological and epidemiological features of VTEC 0157 infection are reviewed. (C) 1998 Federation of European Microbiological Societi es. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.