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A NEW Escherichia coli O-group, O159, associated with outbreaks of enteritis in infants
Insights
A new strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) caused an enteritis outbreak in a nursery. This E. coli O159 strain, identified by its unique O-antigen, was linked to a previous diarrhea outbreak, with some isolates producing enterotoxin.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- An outbreak of enteritis affected 25 babies in a nursery, with 5 requiring intravenous therapy.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) was suspected as the causative agent.
- A similar outbreak occurred a year prior, involving E. coli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the pathogen responsible for the enteritis outbreak.
- To investigate the link between the current and previous outbreaks.
- To characterize the newly identified E. coli strain.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and serotyping of E. coli from affected infants.
- Re-examination of E. coli strains from a previous outbreak.
- Enterotoxin production testing using the infant mouse model.
Main Results:
- A novel E. coli O-antigen was isolated from 24 of 25 affected babies.
- The same O-antigen was identified in 5 E. coli isolates from the previous year's outbreak.
- Four of ten tested isolates demonstrated enterotoxin production in infant mice.
Conclusions:
- A new E. coli serotype, O159, was identified as the cause of the nursery enteritis outbreak.
- This E. coli O159 strain was implicated in a prior hospital-wide diarrhea outbreak.
- The enterotoxigenic potential of this new E. coli strain was confirmed.
Abstract:
An outbreak of enteritis occurred amongst babies in a nursery unit. 25 babies were affected and 5 required intravenous therapy; there were not fatalities. From 24 of the 25 babies affected, an Escherichia coli with a previously undescribed O-antigen was isolated. An outbreak of diarrhoea had taken place in the same hospital a year before and re-examiniation of cultures of E. coli isolated at that time showed that 5 of the 15 babies affected had been excreting E. coli with the same O-antigen. Isolates from 10 of the babies were tested for enterotoxin production in the infant mouse model and 4 gave a positive response. The new O-antigen has been accepted into the international serotyping scheme and has been designated E. coli O159.