Simultaneous isolation of verotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli O128 : H2 and viruses in gastroenteritis outbreaks

Three outbreaks of gastroenteritis from which the Verotoxin producing Esche richia coli serotype O128:H2 was isolated are reported. In addition Norvall i-like viruses were detected in patients from two of the outbreaks and astr ovirus in the third outbreak. While it cannot be specifically determined wh ich of these agents played the major role in these outbreaks, the findings suggest that the viral agents need to be considered in investigations of ga stroenteritis outbreaks, regardless of whether bacterial enteropathogens ha ve also been isolated. This study points to a strong need to investigate ga stroenteritis outbreaks for both bacterial and viral agents and to review i n detail the asymptomatic carriage rate of Verotoxin-producing bacteria and gastroenteritis-associated viral agents; these areas of public health sign ificance have been largely neglected. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.