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Semin Thromb Hemost 2010; 36(6): 586-593
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1262880
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26:H11–Associated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Bacteriology and Clinical Presentation

Lothar-Bernd Zimmerhackl1 , Alejandra Rosales1 , Johannes Hofer1 , Magdalena Riedl1 , Therese Jungraithmayr1 , Alexander Mellmann2 , Martina Bielaszewska2 , Helge Karch2
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
  • 2Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 September 2010 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Infection by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is the most frequent cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in childhood. During a 6-year period, all patients with the clinical diagnosis of HUS were registered in a prospective multicenter study in Austria and Germany. EHEC O26:H11 was the second most frequent detected serotype, accounting for 15.4% of all EHEC isolates. The presence of EHEC O26:H11 was significantly associated with young age at the disease onset (p < 0.001). Patients infected with this serotype were not different in their clinical presentation than those infected with other serotypes. This study underlines the importance of EHEC serotypes other than O157 in the etiology of HUS and emphasizes the importance of implementation of appropriate diagnostic methods to identify the whole spectrum of EHEC associated with HUS.

KEYWORDS

EHEC - O26 - HUS - morbidity - long-term outcome

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Lothar-Bernd ZimmerhacklM.D. Ph.D. 

Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35

6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Email: lothar-bernd.zimmerhackl@uki.at