Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in patients with diarrhoea in Switzerland.
The present study was conducted between October 1996 and October 1998 to estimate the frequency of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli among outpatients with diarrhoea in Switzerland. Among 3,041 subjects studied, 16 (0.5%) verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infections were identified. Eleven cases were in infants and children </= 6 years of age. In 15 cases, a verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli strain was isolated. These strains belonged to 11 different serotypes, and only two were serogroup O157. In five cases, the infection was probably acquired outside Switzerland. Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli apparently play a minor role in the aetiology of diarrhoeal disease in adult outpatients in Switzerland, but they are important pathogens in preschool children in whom the most severe symptoms are observed.
Schmid
H
H
Division of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases, Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, 3003 Bern, Switzerland, hans.schmid@bag.admin.ch
Burnens
A P
AP
Baumgartner
A
A
Boerlin
P
P
Bille
J
J
Liassine
N
N
Friderich
P
P
Breer
C
C
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
D004768:Enterotoxins