Surveillance of E. coli O157:H7 and HUS Trends
Author Information
Author(s): Barbara E. Mahon, Patricia M. Griffin, Paul S. Mead, Robert V. Tauxe
Primary Institution: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
Are prevention measures decreasing the risk of STEC infections and HUS?
Conclusion
Current surveillance methods may not effectively detect trends in non-O157 STEC infections and the impact of prevention measures.
Supporting Evidence
- Diarrhea-associated HUS is a major cause of acute renal failure in U.S. children.
- STEC infections are the cause of virtually all diarrhea-associated HUS in the U.S.
- Current surveillance methods are unlikely to detect trends in non-O157 STEC infections.
Takeaway
This study looks at how we track infections from a type of bacteria that can make people very sick, especially kids, and how we can do better at preventing these infections.
Methodology
Active surveillance for HUS in sentinel sites to monitor trends and link cases to microbial diagnosis.
Potential Biases
Changes in reporting practices may skew the perceived incidence of O157 infections.
Limitations
Current surveillance may not detect non-O157 STEC infections and relies on reporting that may not reflect actual incidence.
Participant Demographics
Focus on children under 18 years of age for HUS cases.
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