Shigella and shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli causing bloody diarrhea in Latin America

In Latin America, Shigella and shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli are t he two leading agents in the cause of bloody diarrhea. The already high and increasing antimicrobial resistance of Shigella also is a significant prob lem. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli is an emerging disease with life-threate ning complications: hemolytic uremic syndrome. Although E. coli O157:H7 rem ains the most commonly recognized serotype, recently emerging, non-O157 bac teria may be the cause of a similar spectrum of disease in humans.