Treatment and prevention of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Over a quarter century after the discovery of verocytotoxin and the first report by Karmali and colleagues of cases of postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC), otherwise known as Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC), successful treatment of these infections has remained elusive. This is because the pathological insult producing the clinical picture of HUS occurs early in the disease process and curtails quickly, making treatment intervention a largely vain hope. Nevertheless, understanding of the pathogenesis of HUS has expanded and, as a result, we can expect a future breakthrough in the treatment of this life-threatening condition. This review examines the pathogenesis of HUS and explores targets for treatment, including the reasons why certain therapies have failed and why future therapies could be successful. This review also examines the status of vaccine development in prevention of VTEC/STEC disease.
The Women's & Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. paul.goldwater@cywhs.sa.gov.au
Paul N
PN
Goldwater
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D022361:Escherichia coli Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D037521:Virulence Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D022361:Escherichia coli Vaccines; D037521:Virulence Factors