HEMORRHAGIC COLITIS AND HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME CAUSED BY ESCHERICHIA-COLI O157-H7

We report the case of an Escherichia coil O157:H7 infection in a patie nt with hemorrhagic colitis. Initial diagnosis was ischemic colitis be cause of the age of the patient and clinical presentation. After one w eek, a hemolytic-uremic syndrome occurred and serologic antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide O157 of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were positive, leading to the diagnosis of hemorrhagic colitis caused by this bacter ia. Escherichia coil O157:H7 colonic infection is not well known, spec ially in France where only two cases has been reported in adults. This bacteria and the toxin produced (Shiga-like toxin) should be searched in cultures of stools and colonic biopsies in case of bloody diarrhea , in particular when a hemolytic-uremic syndrome is associated. As cli nical, pathological and endoscopic findings in Escherichia coil O157:H 7 - associated colitis may be similar to the ischemic colitis pattern, differential diagnosis may be difficult.