Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC)

Reportable by Providers and laboratories

Infectious agent: E.coli bacteria that produce Shiga toxin, also called verocytotoxin-producing E.coli (VTEC) or enterohemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC)

Description of illness: Symptoms of infection include diarrhea (often bloody), abdominal cramps and vomiting. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a complication in 5% to 10% of patients and can be life-threatening. STEC are excreted in the stool of infected persons for up to 1 week in adults and up to 3 weeks in children.

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