Surveillance of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157∶H7 infection in Xuzhou, Jiangsu

Objective To understand the incidence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157∶H7 infection complicated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and the carrying status of the pathogen in diarrhea patients, host animals, flies and foodstuff in Xuzhou, and provide scientific evidence for the establishment of early-warning system. Methods The samples of diarrhea patient’s stool, fly and food were collected in epidemic area in Xuzhou to isolate the pathogen strain and detect toxin gene stx with PCR. Results A total of 132 cases of E. coli O157∶H7 diarrhea complicated with HUS were reported in Xuzhou from 1999 to 2011. The carrying rate of the pathogen was 1.2% in diarrhea patients, 3.1% in host animals, 0.5% in flies and 1.0% in foodstuff. The toxin genes stx1 and stx2 of E. coli O157∶H7 were detected in most strains in early phase of the epidemic. Conclusion The epidemic of E. coli O157∶H7 infection in Xuzhou was under control after the outbreaks in 1999 and 2000. The carrying status of the pathogen in diarrhea patients, flies, foodstuff and host animals varied over time, and the carrying status of toxin gene in the pathogen varied too.