title: The enemy within us: lessons from the 2011 European Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak.
abstract: In response to the 2011 European health alert caused by a pathogenic Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak, the European Academy of Microbiology (EAM), established by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS), convened a meeting in Paris on November 30th, 2011 on 'EHEC infection and control' attended by world renowned experts in pathogenic E. coli. The major aims of this group were to review the scientific issues raised by the outbreak, to assess the handling of the crisis at the scientific and political levels, and to propose future actions. Several conclusions, which will have impact on future potential E. coli outbreaks, are outlined here.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, University Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karch
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Denamur
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dobrindt
authors.forename: B Brett
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hengge
authors.forename: Ludgers
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johannes
authors.forename: Eliora Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Ron
authors.forename: Tone
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tønjum
authors.forename: Philippe J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Sansonetti
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vicente
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans