title: PHLS begins a national case control study of Escherichia coli O157 infection in England.
abstract: Infection with Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) is a growing public health problem and the commonest cause of acute renal failure in children in the United Kingdom. Foodborne outbreaks of VTEC O157 infection have been reported in the United Kingdom, other European countries, and North America. Most cases of infection are sporadic, however, and the contribution of food vehicles, animal contact, and person to person spread in the acquisition of infection needs to be clarified. The PHLS is starting a case control study in England to identify and estimate the relative importance of risk factors for the acquisition of VTEC O157 infection. The study will run for 12 months. This article describes its objectives and asks microbiologists, public health physicians, clinicians, and others who may be asked for details about cases or to find suitable controls for their help in achieving a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Diseases Section, PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Adak
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheasty
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bolton
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors