title: Community-wide outbreak of hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with non-O157 verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli.
abstract: From 20 April through 13 May 1992, 9 children were hospitalized with hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Lombardia, Italy, where only 14 cases of this syndrome had occurred in the preceding 4 years. Cases were scattered in a large area encompassing five provinces, and the source of the outbreak was not identified. Eight patients needed dialysis, and there was 1 death. Seven of the 9 cases were examined for evidence of infection by Vero cytotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Six children had serum antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide of E. coli O111, and a VT-producing E. coli O111:NM was isolated from stool in 1 case. This is the first outbreak of VTEC infection recognized in Italy and the first associated with an E. coli serotype other than O157:H7.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Ultrastructure, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caprioli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Luzzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosmini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Resti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edefonti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perfumo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goglio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gianviti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzoni
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012703:Serotyping; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1