title: Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) infections in Finland during 1998-2002: a population-based surveillance study.
abstract: During 1998-2002, 124 microbiologically confirmed infections caused by shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) were reported in Finland. Of these, 25 (20%) were associated with recent foreign travel. Temporal, geographical and type distribution of the domestically acquired infections (n=99) caused by strains of serogroup O157 (n=52) and non-O157 (n=47) were analysed further. The median age of the patients was 6.8 years (range 0.2-73.1 years). Of the index cases within 26 families, 71% were <5 years old. Family-related infections accounted for 49%, sporadic infections 39%, and 11% were associated with three clusters. Only strains of serogroup O157 carrying eae and stx 2 or its variants caused separate clusters. The incidence of STEC infections was at its highest (0.64/100000) in 1998. Since 1999 it has declined considerably (0.17/100000 in 2002). STEC infections occurred in 14 hospital districts, mostly (28%) in the Helsinki region. However, the incidence was highest (10.3) in northwest Finland.
authors.affiliation: Enteric Bacteria Laboratory, Department of Bacterial and Inflammatory Diseases, National Public Health Institute (KTL), FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Nuorti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruutu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siitonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012621:Seasons; D022621:Shiga Toxin / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D022621:Shiga Toxin