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  • Title: Prevalence, characterisation and clinical profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in The Netherlands.
    Author: van Duynhoven YT, Friesema IH, Schuurman T, Roovers A, van Zwet AA, Sabbe LJ, van der Zwaluw WK, Notermans DW, Mulder B, van Hannen EJ, Heilmann FG, Buiting A, Jansen R, Kooistra-Smid AM.
    Journal: Clin Microbiol Infect; 2008 May; 14(5):437-45. PubMed ID: 18325039.
    Abstract:
    Detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in The Netherlands is traditionally limited to serogroup O157. To assess the relative importance of STEC, including non-O157 serogroups, stool samples submitted nationwide for investigation of enteric pathogens or diarrhoea were screened with real-time PCR for the presence of the Shiga toxin genes. Patients were selected if their stool contained blood upon macroscopic examination, if they had a history of bloody diarrhoea, were diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome, or were aged <6 years (irrespective of the bloody aspect of the stool). PCR-positive stools were forwarded to a central laboratory for STEC isolation and typing. In total, 4069 stools were examined, with 68 (1.7%) positive PCR results. The highest prevalence was for stools containing macroscopic blood (3.5%), followed by stools from patients with a history of bloody diarrhoea (2.4%). Among young children, the prevalence (1.0%) was not significantly higher than among random, non-bloody, stool samples from diarrhoeal patients (1.4%). STEC strains were isolated from 25 (38%) PCR-positive stools. Eleven O-serogroups were detected, including five STEC O157 strains. As serogroup O157 represented only 20% of the STEC isolates, laboratories should be encouraged to use techniques enabling them to detect non-O157 serogroups, in parallel with culture, for isolation and subsequent characterisation of STEC strains for public health surveillance and detection of outbreaks.
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