Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections

Pathogenesis and diagnosis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections.

Since their initial recognition 20 years ago, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains have emerged as an important cause of serious human gastrointestinal disease, which may result in life-threatening complications such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Food-borne outbreaks of STEC disease appear to be increasing and, when mass-produced and mass-distributed foods are concerned, can in...

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. Outbreaks are linked to bovine food sources. STEC O157:H7 has been responsible for the most severe outbreaks worldwide. However, non-O157 serotypes have emerged as important enteric pathogens in several countries. The main virulence factor of STEC is the production of Shig...

Shiga Toxin – producing Escherichia coli

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Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia coli

Shiga Toxin/Verocytotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli Infections: Practical Clinical Perspectives.

Escherichia coli strains that produce Shiga toxins/verotoxins are rare, but important, causes of human disease. They are responsible for a spectrum of illnesses that range from the asymptomatic to the life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome; diseases caused by E. coli belonging to serotype O157:H7 are exceptionally severe. Each illness has a fairly predictable trajectory, and good clinical p...