Importance of environmental transmission in cases of EHEC O157 causing hemolytic uremic syndrome
Authors:
- 19 April 2005
- journal article
- Published by Springer Nature in European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
- Vol. 24 (4) , 268-271
Abstract
A local outbreak of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 causing severe hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) was found to be caused by environmental transmission. Automated ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that four stx 2 -positive EHEC isolates obtained from two unrelated children, one mother and one cow were identical. Results of an epidemiological investigation strongly suggest that both children were infected via a meadow strewn with manure containing EHEC-positive feces from the infected cow a few days prior to the onset of illness. The cow belonged to a cattle farm neighboring the meadow. This report highlights the risk of acquiring EHEC O157 through indirect contact with a farm environment.Keywords
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