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. 2014 Nov;142(11):2270-80.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268813003233. Epub 2014 Jan 7.

Outbreaks of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection: USA

R E Luna-Gierke  1 , P M Griffin  1 , L H Gould  1 , K Herman  1 , C A Bopp  1 , N Strockbine  1 , R K Mody  1
Affiliations

Outbreaks of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection: USA

R E Luna-Gierke et al. Epidemiol Infect. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections are increasingly detected, but sources are not well established. We summarize outbreaks to 2010 in the USA. Single-aetiology outbreaks were defined as ⩾2 epidemiologically linked culture-confirmed non-O157 STEC infections; multiple-aetiology outbreaks also had laboratory evidence of ⩾2 infections caused by another enteric pathogen. Twenty-six states reported 46 outbreaks with 1727 illnesses and 144 hospitalizations. Of 38 single-aetiology outbreaks, 66% were caused by STEC O111 (n = 14) or O26 (n = 11), and 84% were transmitted through food (n = 17) or person-to-person spread (n = 15); food vehicles included dairy products, produce, and meats; childcare centres were the most common setting for person-to-person spread. Of single-aetiology outbreaks, a greater percentage of persons infected by Shiga toxin 2-positive strains had haemolytic uraemic syndrome compared with persons infected by Shiga toxin 1-only positive strains (7% vs. 0·8%). Compared with single-aetiology outbreaks, multiple-aetiology outbreaks were more frequently transmitted through water or animal contact.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Outbreaks of non-O157 STEC infection, by state to 2010.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Number of outbreaks of non-O157 STEC infection, by year to 2010.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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