Improved biochemical screening procedure for small clinical laboratories for vero (Shiga-like)-toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Abstract

Of 327 sorbitol-negative fecal isolates of Escherichia coli, 37 O157:H7 Vero (Shiga-like)-toxin-producing strains were identified. The specificity of the basic sorbitol screen was improved from 11.3 to 33.6% by the exclusion of organisms with negative ornithine and lysine decarboxylase reactions.