Duration of faecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 among children in day-care centres

Abstract

In the past 15 years Escherichia coli O157:H7 (O157) has emerged as an important cause of bloody and non-bloody diarrhoea in many parts of the world. 1 Boyce TG Swerdlow DL Griffin PM Current concepts: Escherichia coli O157:H7 and the hemolytic uremic syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333: 364-368 Crossref PubMed Scopus (525) Google Scholar The sequelae include haemolytic uraemic syndrome and even death. Most infections are acquired through foodborne routes. However, the infectious dose is low and person-to-person transmission is common. Outbreaks of the illness due to person-to-person spread have occurred in schools, longterm care institutions, families, and day-care facilities, 1 Boyce TG Swerdlow DL Griffin PM Current concepts: Escherichia coli O157:H7 and the hemolytic uremic syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333: 364-368 Crossref PubMed Scopus (525) Google Scholar and secondary attack rates of up to 22% have been reported. 2 Belongia EA Osterholm MT Soler JT Ammend DA Braun JE MacDonald KL Transmission of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in Minnesota child day-care facilities. JAMA. 1993; 269: 883-888 Crossref PubMed Scopus (210) Google Scholar Reducing person-to-person transmission is important in preventing spread of this pathogen.