Case–Control Study of Factors Associated with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome among Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli Patients, Ireland, 2017–2020

• DOI: 10.3201/eid3104.240060
• Publication Date: 2025-03-18T13:43:28Z
• Authors: Diana Espadinha; Melissa Brady; Carina Brehony; Douglas Hamilton; Lois O’Connor; Robert Cunney; Suzanne Cotter; Anne Carroll; Patricia Garvey; Eleanor McNamara
• Keywords: Uremic Toxins; Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection can cause potentially fatal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To determine epidemiologic and bacterial genomic factors associated with HUS, we conducted a retrospective case-control study 108 HUS cases 416 unmatched controls (non-HUS) selected among STEC notifications in Ireland during 2017-2020. We combined routinely collected data on genomewide association findings used logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios. Our reaffirmed known risk factors, such as young age (0-9 years) presence of specific stx genes or gene combinations (stx2a; stx1a + stx2a; stx2c), additionally suggest that having outbreak-associated infection, residence within the East region Ireland, both ygiW group_5720 pfkA fieF are developing HUS. could improve early identification high-risk infections help guide enhanced surveillance public health management.