title: Laboratory practices and incidence of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections.
abstract: We surveyed laboratories in Washington State, USA, and found that increased use of Shiga toxin assays correlated with increased reported incidence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections during 2005-2010. Despite increased assay use, only half of processed stool specimens underwent Shiga toxin testing during 2010, suggesting substantial underdetection of  non-O157 STEC infections.
authors.affiliation: Washington State Department of Health, Shoreline, WA 98155, USA. katie.stigi@doh.wa.gov
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stigi
authors.forename: J Kathryn
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tellez-Marfin
authors.forename: Kathryn H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lofy
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007753:Laboratories; D008829:Microbiology; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology