Sporadic cases of hemorrhagic colitis associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 in rural Wisconsin.
The epidemiology and clinical aspects of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections in rural Wisconsin have rarely been reported. In the last six years, 66 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection were encountered at our institution. Bloody diarrhea was the universal presentation and all cases represented apparent sporadic infection as institutional or community-wide outbreaks were not found in our study. The mean age was 31 (range 7 months to 86 years), 25% less than 10 years old and 60% were female. Most cases were seen in summer and early autumn (88%). Two patients (3%) developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Case-fatality rate in this study was 1.5%. Antibiotic treatment and hospitalization did not change the course and outcome of the infection. Routine screening of E. coli O157:H7 during winter time (December and January) may not be necessary in our rural area. The understanding gained from our study might foster better infection control.
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Department of General Internal Medicine, Marshfield Clinic, WI, USA.
Olson
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003092:Colitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012703:Serotyping; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology