Prolonged fecal shedding of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli among children attending day-care centers in Argentina.

MILIWEBSKY E., ; DEZA N; CHINEN I; MARTINEZ ESPINOSA E; GOMEZ D; PEDRONI E; CAPRILE L; BASHCKIER A; MANFREDI E; LEOTTA G; RIVAS M

REVISTA ARGENTINA DE MICROBIOLOGíA

ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA

Año: 2007 vol. 39 p. 90 - 92

0325-7541

In this report we describe the detection and duration of fecal shedding of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and non-O157 in symptomatic and asymptomatic cases during four events occurred among children in day-care centers in Argentina. In each event, the cases were identified among children, family contacts and staff members of the Institution. The isolates were characterized by pheno-genotyping and subtyping methods. The STEC fecal shedding was prolonged and intermittent. Strains O157:H7; O26:H11 and O145:NM were shed during 23-30, 37, 31 and 19 days, respectively. Considering the possibility of STEC intermittent long-term shedding, symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals should be excluded from the Institution until two consecutive stool cultures obtained at least 48 h apart, test negative. O26:H11 were shed during 23-30, 37, 31 and 19 days, respectively. Considering the possibility of STEC intermittent long-term shedding, symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals should be excluded from the Institution until two consecutive stool cultures obtained at least 48 h apart, test negative. O26:H11 and O145:NM were shed during 23-30, 37, 31 and 19 days, respectively. Considering the possibility of STEC intermittent long-term shedding, symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals should be excluded from the Institution until two consecutive stool cultures obtained at least 48 h apart, test negative.