Improved microbiological techniques using the polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for diagnosis and follow-up of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection.

• The aims of the present investigation were to evaluate the microbiological diagnostic procedures, especially polymerase chain reaction (PCR) versus culture and seroagglutination, in relation to the clinical features of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection and to study the status of EHEC in the western part of Sweden. During 1997 and 1998, stool specimens from 3,948 patients were analysed by PCR for the presence of EHEC with verotoxin (VT)1- and/or VT2-producing DNA sequences. The stool specimens were also cultured for Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella and Yersinia. Fifty-five patients were positive by PCR. Thirty-nine patients were positive for EHEC by PCR and culture. Of these, 29 were infected with EHEC serogroup O157:H7 strains. All EHEC isolates were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE); 17 different clones were identified. Studies on the duration of the presence of EHEC in the gut showed that EHEC often disappears rather quickly, i.e. within 2 weeks. In one patient, however, EHEC remained for several months. In conclusion, PCR, rather than culture and agglutination, should be the method of choice for microbiological diagnosis of EHEC infection. PCR is more sensitive than culture for detecting EHEC in the gut.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adhesins

Bacterial

Adolescent

Adult

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

genetics

metabolism

Bacterial Typing Techniques

Carrier Proteins

Child

Culture Media

Electrophoresis

Gel

Pulsed-Field

Escherichia coli

classification

genetics

immunology

isolation & purification

Escherichia coli Infections

diagnosis

epidemiology

microbiology

Escherichia coli Proteins

Feces

microbiology

Humans

Polymerase Chain Reaction

methods

Serotyping

Shiga Toxins

genetics

metabolism

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)