title: Screening for Escherichia coli O157:H7--a nationwide survey of clinical laboratories.
abstract: The Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors has recommended that clinical laboratories screen at least all bloody stools for Escherichia coli O157:H7. We contacted the microbiology supervisors of 230 randomly selected clinical laboratories in the United States and administered a standardized questionnaire regarding stool culture practices. Of the 129 laboratories that performed stool cultures, only 70 (54%) reported screening either all stools or all bloody stools submitted for culture for E. coli O157:H7.
authors.affiliation: Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Boyce
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008403:Mass Screening; D009780:Occult Blood; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology