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PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE PREVALENCE STUDY OF VEROCYTOTOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI IN THE BRUSSELS-CAPITAL REGION
Book Contribution - Book Chapter Conference Contribution
In order to evaluate the prevalence of infections with Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in the Brussels-Capital Region, clinical stool samples collected by 6 of the 9 hospital laboratories for microbiology were investigated. In addition to routinely submitted stool samples from UZ Brussel, all other participating laboratories were asked to submit ten stools per week for VTEC screening. Samples to include in this study were selected as follows: those from patients with HUS; from patients with a history of bloody diarrhea; from children Stool samples were cultured on sorbitol MacConkey (SMAC) agar and SMAC with cefixime and tellurite. A colony sweep and single colonies were tested for VTEC using a multiplex PCR targeting VT1, VT2, and their subtypes. Isolated VTEC were tested for the presence of the eae and ehx genes, and latex agglutination was used to identify serogroups O157, O26, O103, O111, O121, and O145.
A total of 4240 stool samples were screened for VTEC between January and October 2008, with 67 (1.58%) positive PCR results. VTEC were isolated from 46 (68.6%) PCR positive stools. Twenty-four (52.2%) isolates were positive for VT1, 14 (30.4%) for VT2 (including 3 VT2f), and 8 for both VT1 and VT2. The eae and ehx genes were present in 30 (65.2%) out of 46 isolates. Eighteen (39.1%) isolates belonged to the six previously mentioned O serogroups, comprising 8 O157, 5 O26, 3 O111, and 2 O103.
The highest prevalence of VTEC was detected in stools from patients with a history of bloody diarrhea (8.8%) followed by stools containing macroscopic blood (2.4%). Prevalence among young children (2.06%) was significantly higher than in random diarrhea samples (0.67%) (pThis surveillance shows an increased prevalence of VTEC compared to previous data collected in our lab. The majority of isolates (82.6%) belonged to non-O157 serogroups. Comparable proportions were recently reported in the Netherlands. Our data show that clinical laboratories should consider testing samples from patients with HUS, bloody diarrhea or a history of bloody diarrhea for the presence of VTEC. Screening of pediatric stool samples can also be considered.
* research supported by Brussels-Capital Region grant PRFB 2007-29 to G Buvens
A total of 4240 stool samples were screened for VTEC between January and October 2008, with 67 (1.58%) positive PCR results. VTEC were isolated from 46 (68.6%) PCR positive stools. Twenty-four (52.2%) isolates were positive for VT1, 14 (30.4%) for VT2 (including 3 VT2f), and 8 for both VT1 and VT2. The eae and ehx genes were present in 30 (65.2%) out of 46 isolates. Eighteen (39.1%) isolates belonged to the six previously mentioned O serogroups, comprising 8 O157, 5 O26, 3 O111, and 2 O103.
The highest prevalence of VTEC was detected in stools from patients with a history of bloody diarrhea (8.8%) followed by stools containing macroscopic blood (2.4%). Prevalence among young children (2.06%) was significantly higher than in random diarrhea samples (0.67%) (pThis surveillance shows an increased prevalence of VTEC compared to previous data collected in our lab. The majority of isolates (82.6%) belonged to non-O157 serogroups. Comparable proportions were recently reported in the Netherlands. Our data show that clinical laboratories should consider testing samples from patients with HUS, bloody diarrhea or a history of bloody diarrhea for the presence of VTEC. Screening of pediatric stool samples can also be considered.
* research supported by Brussels-Capital Region grant PRFB 2007-29 to G Buvens
Book: 7th International Symposium on Shiga Toxin (Verocytotoxin) – producing Escherichia coli infections (VTEC2009), 10-14 May 2009, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Publication year:2009
Keywords:VTEC, prevalence, Brussels Capital Region