Abstract
BackgroundShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of gastroenteritis in Australia and worldwide and can also result in serious sequelae such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In this paper we describe the epidemiology of STEC in Australia using the latest available data.MethodsNational and state notifications data, as well as data on serotypes, hospitalizations, mortality and outbreaks were examined.ResultsFor the 11 year period 2000 to 2010, the overall annual Australian rate of all notified STEC illness was 0.4 cases per 100,000 per year. In total, there were 822 STEC infections notified in Australia over this period, with a low of 1 notification in the Australian Capital Territory (corresponding to a rate of 0.03 cases per 100,000/year) and a high of 413 notifications in South Australia (corresponding to a rate of 2.4 cases per 100,000/year), the state with the most comprehensive surveillance for STEC infection in the country. Nationally, 71.2% (504/708) of STEC infections underwent serotype testing between 2001 and 2009, and of these, 58.0% (225/388) were found to be O157 strains, with O111 (13.7%) and O26 (11.1%) strains also commonly associated with STEC infections. The notification rate for STEC O157 infections Australia wide between 2001-2009 was 0.12 cases per 100,000 per year. Over the same 9 year period there were 11 outbreaks caused by STEC, with these outbreaks generally being small in size and caused by a variety of serogroups. The overall annual rate of notified HUS in Australia between 2000 and 2010 was 0.07 cases per 100,000 per year. Both STEC infections and HUS cases showed a similar seasonal distribution, with a larger proportion of reported cases occurring in the summer months of December to February.ConclusionsSTEC infections in Australia have remained fairly steady over the past 11 years. Overall, the incidence and burden of disease due to STEC and HUS in Australia appears comparable or lower than similar developed countries.
Highlights
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of gastroenteritis in Australia and worldwide and can result in serious sequelae such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS)
Over the same 9 year period there were 11 outbreaks caused by STEC, with these outbreaks generally being small in size and caused by a variety of serogroups
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article by STEC are characterized by abdominal cramps and acute bloody diarrhoea [5]; more serious sequelae may result, including haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and associated complications, which can lead to kidney failure and death in some individuals [3,6]
Summary
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of gastroenteritis in Australia and worldwide and can result in serious sequelae such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Full list of author information is available at the end of the article by STEC are characterized by abdominal cramps and acute bloody diarrhoea [5]; more serious sequelae may result, including haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and associated complications, which can lead to kidney failure and death in some individuals [3,6]. Cattle and sheep are the main reservoirs of STEC and it is generally believed that the major transmission route is foodborne, with the source of infection being the contamination of food with animal faeces [7]. Foods that have been found to be associated with infection are poorly handled or inadequately cooked beef hamburgers and ground beef [8,9], inadequately preserved meats [10,11], raw or inadequately pasteurised dairy products
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