title: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection.
abstract: Large-scale outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection have revealed the great disease-causing potential of this organism, especially among children and elderly persons. Approximately 5%-10% of people with STEC infection will develop hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), approximately 10% of those who develop HUS will die or have permanent renal failure, and up to 50% of those who develop HUS will develop some degree of renal impairment. Important concepts in understanding the pathogenesis and prevention of STEC-associated HUS are emerging, although no specific therapy yet exists. Optimal management of STEC infection includes intravenous hydration, avoidance of antimotility agents and antimicrobials, and monitoring for sequelae. Antimicrobials may have a potentially harmful role, possibly by inducing intestinal production of Shiga toxin during the diarrheal phase of illness. A recent clinical trial evaluating an intraluminal Shiga toxin-binding agent to ameliorate HUS showed no improvement in outcome. Interventions to prevent HUS from developing in STEC-infected children are under investigation. Prevention of exposure to STEC remains important, and animal vaccines to prevent stool shedding of STEC among food animals are in development.
authors.affiliation: Tufts-New England Medical Center and Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. cthorpe@tufts-nemc.org
authors.forename: Cheleste M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thorpe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022361:Escherichia coli Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D022621:Shiga Toxin / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D022361:Escherichia coli Vaccines; D022621:Shiga Toxin