Human infections with non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Switzerland, 2000-2009

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Feb;17(2):180-5. doi: 10.3201/eid1702.100909.

Abstract

We characterized 97 non-O157 Shiga toxin (stx)-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from human patients during 2000-2009 from the national reference laboratory in Switzerland. These strains belonged to 40 O:H serotypes; 4 serotypes (O26:H11/H-, O103:H2, O121:H19, and O145:H28/H-) accounted for 46.4% of the strains. Nonbloody diarrhea was reported by 23.2% of the patients, bloody diarrhea by 56.8%. Hemolytic uremic syndrome developed in 40.0% of patients; serotype O26:H11/H- was most often associated with this syndrome. Forty-five (46.4%) strains carried stx2 genes only, 36 strains (37.1%) carried stx1, and 16 (16.5%) strains carried stx1 and stx2. Genes encoding enterohemolysin and intimin were detected in 75.3% and 70.1% of the strains, respectively. Resistance to ≥1 antimicrobial agent was present in 25 isolates. High genetic diversity within strains indicates that non-O157 stx-producing E. coli infections in Switzerland most often occurred as single cases.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / microbiology
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Serotyping
  • Shiga Toxin 1 / biosynthesis*
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / biosynthesis*
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / classification*
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / pathogenicity*
  • Species Specificity
  • Switzerland
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Shiga Toxin 1
  • Shiga Toxin 2