Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with human infections in the United Kingdom.
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Colitis↗
Biomedical subjects
B Rowe
Publications and source records attributed to B Rowe.
Outbreak of Salmonella napoli infection caused by contaminated chocolate bars.
An outbreak of Salmonella napoli infection in England and Wales in 1982 was detected by the surveillance of routine reports of salmonella infections from hospital and public-health laboratories. Epidemiological investigation quickly identified two types of small chocolate-covered bars, imported from Italy, as the vehicles of infection, and subsequently both were found to be contaminated with the organism. The prompt recognition of this outbreak and rapid identification of the vehicle of infection enabled four-fifths of the consignment of contaminated chocolate to be withdrawn from the market. The 245 reported cases resulted from the sale of 600 000 bars; as these were presumably only a small fraction of the total number of cases, it is likely that many thousands of infections were prevented.
Adolescent↗
A longitudinal study of the prevalence of bacterial enteric pathogens among adults with diarrhea in Bangkok, Thailand.
Six hundred sixty adults with diarrhea treated at Bamrasnaradura hospital, Bangkok, Thailand were investigated to determine the prevalence, seasonality, and severity of diarrhea associated with bacterial enteric pathogens in 1980 and 1981. Shigella were isolated from 27% and Vibrio parahaemolyticus from 19% of the patients studied. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (5%), Salmonella (3%), non-01 Vibrio cholerae (3%), Campylobacter jejuni (1%), and Group F vibrio (less than 1%) were isolated from a smaller proportion of the patients. Shigella infections were most common in July-September, during the period of maximum rainfall in Thailand, while V. parahaemolyticus was isolated most frequently in September and October at the end of the rainy season. 0-1 Vibrio cholerae was isolated from 25% of 104 patients studied in the hot, dry spring of 1980, but was not isolated throughout 1981. Patients with cholera passed more watery stools, while those with Salmonella and Shigella most frequently had headaches, and those with Shigella more often had blood in their stools than those with other infections, or in whom no bacterial enteric pathogens were identified. Annual, seasonal, and, from a comparison with other reported surveys, geographical differences exist in the prevalence of bacterial enteric pathogens in adults with diarrhea in tropical developing countries.
Adolescent↗
Drug resistance among Escherichia coli strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid.
One hundred and thirty-one strains of Escherichia coli isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of patients in the United Kingdom were tested for resistance to 13 antimicrobial drugs. Sixty-four strains (49%) were resistant to one or more drugs and 44 (34%) were resistant to three or more drugs. Resistance to ampicillin, sulphonamides, streptomycin and tetracycline occurred most frequently.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Citrobacter koseri (syn. C. diversus): biotype, serogroup and drug resistance patterns of 517 strains.
The names Citrobacter koseri and C. diversus are synonyms for a species of enterobacterium with a particular ability to cause neonatal meningitis. 517 strains belonging to this species were examined using biotyping and serotyping techniques. 40% of the strains belonged to serogroups O2 and O1 and 72% belonged to biotypes d and a. Strains isolated from cerebrospinal fluid belonged to several different serogroups and biotypes but serogroups O2 and O3 and biotypes d and a were the most common. All the strains were resistant to ampicillin, 42% were resistant to neomycin/kanamycin and 38% were resistant to cephaloridine. 37% of the strains were resistant to three or more drugs.
Ampicillin↗
Plasmid-determined antibiotic resistance in Shigella flexneri isolated in England and Wales between 1974 and 1978.
The majority of Shigella flexneri strains isolated in England and Wales are from infections contracted abroad. Most of these strains are drug-resistant, over 75% being resistant to streptomycin and sulphonamides, sulphonamides alone or streptomycin, sulphonamides and tetracyclines. A selection of resistant strains was tested for resistance transfer and the plasmids identified were characterized by compatibility grouping. Streptomycin and sulphonamide resistance was usually determined by a non-autotransferring plasmid which may be mobilized by standard transfer factors, or by the plasmid which conferred tetracycline resistance where this was present. The remaining resistant strains were predominantly resistant to four or more drugs. These strains carried autotransferring plasmids of a variety of compatibility groups, of which groups B, I1 and FII were the most common.
Ampicillin↗
Plasmid-encoded trimethoprim resistance in salmonellas isolated in Britain between 1970 and 1981.
Trimethoprim resistance was plasmid-encoded in all trimethoprim-resistant Salmonella typhimurium and in the majority of trimethoprim-resistant salmonellas of other serotypes isolated since 1970 from humans and food animals in Britain. In S. typhimurium, non-autotransferring plasmids of compatibility group 3 and autotransferring plasmids of group H2 predominated. The predominance of these plasmid types has resulted from the spread of clones of trimethoprim-resistant strains of phage types 18, 170 and 204c. In other salmonellas, a variety of plasmid compatibility groups have been identified. Almost all plasmids which conferred resistance to trimethoprim also coded for sulphonamide resistance.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Plasmid-borne multiple drug resistance in Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1, biotype El Tor: evidence for a point-source outbreak in Bangladesh.
In 1979, an outbreak of plasmid-borne, multiply drug-resistant Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 biotype El Tor (V. cholerae O1) occurred in the Matlab area of Bangladesh. The outbreak could have resulted from the introduction into the area of a single resistant strain or from multiple conjugations of drug-sensitive V. cholerae O1 with C plasmids in other environmental flora. Resistant strains were phage typed to determine their relatedness, and plasmid studies were conducted to determine the frequency of C plasmids in nonvibrio flora of family contacts of cholera patients. Forty-one (85%) of 48 resistant strains of V. cholerae O1 examined belonged to two closely related phage types new to the area, whereas 59 drug-sensitive strains from the same period were primarily of two different phage types. Group C plasmids were in nonvibrio strains from five of 36 family contacts of patients with drug-resistant cholera but none of 82 family contacts of patients with sensitive cholera. This outbreak most likely began from the introduction into the area of a single, multiply drug-resistant strain of V. cholerae O1. C plasmids detected in the nonvibrio flora of family contacts probably came from the resistant strain of V. cholerae O1.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
A hospital outbreak of multiresistant Salmonella typhimurium belonging to phage type 193.
An outbreak of nosocomial infection was caused by strains of Salmonella typhimurium phage type 193 that were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, neomycin-kanamycin, streptomycin, spectinomycin, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, trimethoprim, and nalidixic acid. Resistances to drugs other than nalidixic acid were specified by plasmids, and, on the basis of phage typing and plasmid characterization studies, the multiresistant phage type 193 strains were determined to be clonal. In a two-year period, 488 patients infected with these bacteria were identified. An investigation in a pediatric surgical ward, where the outbreak was particularly severe, showed that patients exposed to antibiotics were more likely to be colonized with the epidemic strain and that young debilitated patients were more liable to show clinical signs of infection. Epidemiologic studies suggested that cross infection via the hands of the ward staff was the likely means of propagation of the epidemic.
Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Acquisition and maintenance of enterotoxin plasmids in wild-type strains of Escherichia coli.
Enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli (ETEC) may produce a heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), a heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) or both enterotoxins. Certain serogroups are represented more frequently than others in ETEC isolated from humans. The transfer of three plasmids encoding enterotoxin production (Ent) to 22 non-toxigenic E. coli strains of many different O:H serotypes was studied. The Ent plasmids encoded ST (TP276), or LT (TP277), or ST + LT (TP214), and all carried antibiotic-resistance determinants. Twenty-one recipient strains acquired TP214, 18 acquired TP277 and 14 acquired TP276. Strains of those serotypes to which ETEC in diarrhoeal studies commonly belong neither acquired nor maintained Ent plasmids with a higher frequency than strains of those serotypes to which ETEC rarely belong. The recipient strains, with one exception, all expressed ST, or LT, or ST and LT, when they had acquired the appropriate plasmid; a non-motile strain belonging to O serogroup 88 expressed LT but failed to express ST when it acquired TP214 or TP277.
Bacterial Toxins↗
Expression of plasmids coding for colonization factor antigen II (CFA/II) and enterotoxin production in Escherichia coli.
Two plasmids transferred from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) of serotype O6. H16 and biotypes A and C coded for mannose-resistant haemagglutination (MRHA) and production of heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) and heat-labile enterotoxin (LT). Both plasmids were nonautotransferring being mobilized most efficiently by the R plasmid R100-1. They were similar in their genetic properties being incompatible with each other and plasmids of the Inc group FI. The wild-type strains produced the colonization factor antigen II (CFA/II) which was made up of different coli surface antigens (CS). The biotype A strains produced CS1 and CS3 while the biotype C strains produced CS2 and CS3. These three antigens have the ability to cause MRHA. When plasmids coding for MRHA were transferred to K12 strains, the degree of haemagglutination was markedly reduced and only CS3 was produced. When both plasmids were transferred back into biotype A strains, good MRHA was restored and the strains produced CS1 and CS3. In a biotype C strain CS2 and CS3 were formed. The production of the antigens was compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The strains were also examined by electron microscopy where it was found that CS1 and CS2 were fimbrial antigens while CS3 was not.
Antigens, Bacterial↗
Plasmids that code for production of colonization factor antigen II and enterotoxin production in strains of Escherichia coli.
Similar plasmids that code for production of colonization factor antigen II and enterotoxins were mobilized into Escherichia coli K-12 from strains of E. coli O6.H16 biotype B or C that expressed colonization factor antigen II components CS2 and CS3. Further transfer experiments demonstrated that there was production of CS2 and CS3 in an O6.H16 biotype C strain, but there was expression of only CS3 in other serogroups and in E. coli K-12.
Antigens, Bacterial↗
Antigenic relationships among type strains of Yersinia enterocolitica and those of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Shigella spp.
The antigenic type strains for Yersinia enterocolitica antigens O:1 to O:34 were examined and their antigenic relationships with the type strains of Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., and Salmonella spp. were determined. Y. enterocolitica O:5,27 was antigenically identical to E. coli O97 and Y. enterocolitica O:11 was antigenically identical to E. coli O98.
Animals↗
Enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli strains belonging to a new O group, O167.
A new Escherichia coli O group, O167, is described. Its O antigen is related to that of Shigella boydii 3. A total of 29 strains belonging to the new O group were examined. Three strains were determined to be invasive by the Sereny test and by tissue culture tests and were non-enterotoxigenic. All three were nonmotile and failed to decarboxylate lysine. A total of 26 strains were noninvasive. Of these, 25 were motile, 24 decarboxylated lysine, and 19 were enterotoxigenic, 17 producing heat-stable enterotoxin only and 2 producing heat-labile enterotoxin only. This is the first description of the occurrence of enterotoxigenic and enteroinvasive strains in the same E. coli O group.
Agglutination Tests↗
Antigenic relationships between the enteroinvasive Escherichia coli O antigens O28ac, O112ac, O124, O136, O143, O144, O152, and O164 and Shigella O antigens.
Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli strains have been found in the following O serogroups: O28ac, O112ac, O124, O136, O143, O144, O152, and O164. The biochemical reactions of these enteroinvasive E. coli strains are often similar to those of Shigella strains, and identification may be difficult. The problem of differentiation and identification is further complicated by the sharing of antigenic components. The antigenic relationships between these O antigens and those of all the established and provisional Shigella serovars were examined. O antigen identity was demonstrated between E. coli O124 and Shigella dysenteriae 3 and between E. coli O152 and provisional Shigella serovar 3341:55. Reciprocal relationships were found between E. coli O112ac and S. dysenteriae 2, S. boydii 1, S. boydii 15, between E. coli O136 and S. dysenteriae 3, and between E. coli O164 and S. dysenteriae 3. A one-way relationship was demonstrated between E. coli O136 and S. boydii 1. The remaining enteroinvasive E. coli O serogroups showed no significant antigenic relationships with any Shigella serovar.
Agglutination Tests↗
Changes in serotypes of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Dhaka over time: usefulness of polyvalent antisera.
The finding that enterotoxigenic (ET) Escherichia coli strains from many geographic areas belong to a limited number of serogroups led investigators to hope that polyvalent antisera could be used to screen for ET E. coli in areas of the world where more complicated tests of toxigenicity are not available. We compared the serotypes of 207 ET E. coli strains obtained from patients attending the Dhaka Hospital of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, in 1980 with results obtained from similar surveys conducted in 1976 and 1978. During that time the distribution of serogroups changed significantly so that only 46% of our strains had O serogroups included in the polyvalent antisera capable of detecting 66% of ET E. coli strains in 1978. O167, a serogroup which was not included previously, was the third most common serogroup in our study. These findings suggest that polyvalent antisera used to screen for ET E. coli need to be reassessed over time as well as in different geographic areas and may not be as useful for field diagnosis as was originally hoped.
Diarrhea↗
Incidence of trimethoprim resistance in salmonellae isolated in Britain: a twelve year study.
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Animals↗
Drug resistance among infantile enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated in the United Kingdom.
Two hundred and thirty-two strains of Escherichia coli belonging to infantile enteropathogenic serotypes isolated in the United Kingdom during 1980 and 1981 were tested for resistance to 10 antimicrobial drugs. Resistance to one or more drugs was found in 134 (57.8%) of the strains, with resistance to sulphonamides, streptomycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin occurring most commonly. Resistance was transferable in 65 out of 104 resistant strains. These findings are a cause for concern because they indicate that the choice of treatment for severe illness is limited and suggest that a large pool of drug-resistant organisms exists in the community.
Child, Preschool↗