Escherichia coli that cause hemolytic uremic syndrome

Entero-hemorrhagic Escherichia coli (Shiga-like toxin or verotoxin producing E. coli) have been recognized in recent years as an important new group of enteric pathogens. They are the cause of nonspecific diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis, and in a significant number of patients, these conditions are complicated by the development of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. In childhood, this complication is called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and in adults, it is more typically diagnosed as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TIP). The toxin producing E. coli are the usual etiology of these syndromes when they occur in the setting of a gastrointestinal prodrome with bloody diarrhea.