title: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O78:H(-) in family, Finland, 2009.
abstract: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and bloody diarrhea but can lead to severe disease, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC serotype O78:H(-) is rare among humans, and infections are often asymptomatic. We detected a sorbitol-fermenting STEC O78:H(-):stx(1c):hlyA in blood and fecal samples of a 2-week-old boy who had bacteremia and HUS and in fecal samples of his asymptomatic family members. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and the virulence properties of this invasive STEC were investigated. Our findings demonstrate that contrary to earlier suggestions, STEC under certain conditions can invade the human bloodstream. Moreover, this study highlights the need to implement appropriate diagnostic methods for identifying the whole spectrum of STEC strains associated with HUS.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Taru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lienemann
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: Ruska
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rimhanen-Finne
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rönnholm
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taimisto
authors.forename: Jari J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
authors.forename: Eveliina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tarkka
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuusi
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siitonen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D058889:Molecular Typing; D010641:Phenotype; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1 / Q000235:genetics; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D037521:Virulence Factors