Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Seattle children: a prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The frequency with which stools contain Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli not belonging to serotype O157:H7 is unknown in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency with which these E. coli are present in stools from children from Seattle submitted for bacteriologic analysis.


METHODS
2225 coliform colonies from 445 stools submitted for bacterial culture from Seattle children were probed with the structural genes of Shiga-like toxins I and II in a 1-year prospective study. The adherence and actin aggregating characteristics of these E. coli were subsequently determined.


RESULTS
Five (1.1%) patients had non-O157:H7 Shiga-like toxin producing E. coli, a rate of isolation higher than Shigella or Yersinia (0.2% each) but lower than Campylobacter (2.5%), E. coli O157:H7 (2.9%), or Salmonella (3.4%). Only one of the five patients had bloody diarrhea. None developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. All strains adhered in a localized pattern to, and induced actin aggregation in, HeLa cells, and produced a toxin that was lethal to Vero cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-O157:H7 Shiga-like toxin producing E. coli are present in stools submitted for bacterial culture in a North American childhood population. Their role in childhood diarrhea warrants better definition.
Bokete
T N
TN
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
O'Callahan
C M
CM
Clausen
C R
CR
Tang
N M
NM
Tran
N
N
Moseley
S L
SL
Fritsche
T R
TR
Tarr
P I
PI
D000293:Adolescent; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2