Clinical significance of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157

In 1977, Konowalchuk and colleagues (Konowalchuk, J., Speirs, J.I. & Stavri c, S. 1977 Infection and Immunity 18, 775-779) were the first to describe V erocytotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli or VTEC. The surveillanc e of infection caused by VTEC demonstrated strains of E. coli belonging to serogroup O157 as the main cause of human infection capable of causing haem orrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Infection with O157 VTEC results in a range of disease manifestations including abdominal cramps, vomiting and fever. This frequently leads to cases with bloody dia rrhoea and HC, and approximately 10% of patients develop HUS. The symptoms of disease caused by VTEC O157 have been well documented and the pathogenic mechanisms expressed by VTEC have been the focus of considerable attention . However, the role of putative pathogenic mechanisms in the pathogenesis o f disease is not fully understood. The aim of this review is to consider th e clinical aspects of infection with strains of VT-producing E. coli O157 i n terms of the putative pathogenic mechanisms expressed by these bacteria.