Surveillance of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli associated bloody diarrhea in Argentina

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2023.03.003
• Publication Date: 2023-06-08T12:34:09Z
• Authors: Marta Rivas; Mariana Pichel; Mariana Colonna; Adrián López Casa...; Laura F. Alconcher; Jimena Galavotti; Iliana Principi; Sofía Pérez Araujo; Flavia B. Ramírez; Gladys González; Luis A. Pianciola; Melina Mazzeo; Ángela Suarez; Sebastián Oderiz; Lidia F.R. Ghezzi; Diego J. Arrigo; José H. Paladini; María R. Baroni; Susana Pérez; Ana Tamborini; Isabel Chinen; Elizabeth S. Mili...; Fernando Goldbaum; Luciana Muñoz; Linus Spatz; Santiago Sanguineti; Lucas Iván Lucarelli; Lara Parada Fennen; Patricia Valles; Ana María Poidomani; María Huerga; Leonardo Fioravanti; Emanuel De Rose; Eugenia Crivaro; Nerina Pallaoro; Analía Prado; Paula A. Coccia; Verónica Ferraris; Carolina Aro; Mariana Castañeira; Andrea Rodríguez ...; Luis Marcelo Casa...
• Keywords: Bloody diarrhea; Bloody

In Argentina, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC-HUS) infection is endemic, and reliable data about prevalence risk factors have been available since 2000. However, information STEC-associated bloody diarrhea (BD) limited. A prospective study was performed during the period October 2018-June 2019 in seven tertiary-hospitals 18 referral units from different regions, aiming to determine (i) frequency of STEC-positive BD cases 714 children aged 1-9 years age (ii) rate progression HUS. The number regional distribution STEC-HUS same hospitals were also assessed. Twenty-nine (4.1%) patients STEC-positive, as determined Toxin Quik Chek (STQC) test and/or multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay. highest frequencies found Southern region (Neuquén, 8.7%; Bahía Blanca, 7.9%), between 12 23 month (8.8%), summertime. Four (13.8%) progressed HUS, three nine days after onset. Twenty-seven under 5 (77.8%) enrolled, 51.9% female; 44% Stx-positive STQC all mPCR. most common serotypes O157:H7 O145:H28 prevalent genotypes, both among HUS cases, stx2a-only or -associated. Considering endemic behavior its high incidence, these show that low patients. early recognition important for patient monitoring initiation supportive treatment.