Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups in food and patients, Germany

Emerg Infect Dis. 2008 Nov;14(11):1803-6. doi: 10.3201/eid1411.080361.

Abstract

We compared 61 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups from 448 food isolates with 71 STEC serogroups from 1,447 isolates from patients in Germany. Two thirds (41/61), representing 72% of food isolates, were also found in patients. Serogroups typically isolated from patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome were rarely found in food.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cheese / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology*
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Meat / microbiology
  • Milk / microbiology
  • Serotyping
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / classification*
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Swine