Failure of pre-diarrheal antibiotics to prevent hemolytic uremic syndrome in serologically proven Escherichia coli O157 : H7 gastrointestinal infection

A girl had hemolytic uremic syndrome after Escherichia coli O157:H7 infecti on, despite pre-diarrheal administration of an antibiotic that prevented de tectable intestinal colonization. This report casts doubt on the advisabili ty of antibiotic therapy for E coli O157:H7 infections and has implications for our understanding of the mechanism of this disorder.