In recent years, federal authorities have recognized the clinical importance of other enterohemmoraghic E. colis, termed non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STECs).
While non-O157 STECs are gaining public health significance, several public health laboratories do not conduct routine surveillance for these organisms. APHL works with both commercial medical laboratories and public health laboratories to realize the importance of laboratory confirmation and epidemiological characterization of these organisms.
Guidelines for Isolation and Identification of Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli:
Many public health laboratories have developed the capability to detect and identify Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli, including O157:H7 and non-O157 serotypes. Such work, in addition to molecular subtyping of the isolates, is vital to public health surveillance activities and provides needed data for successful outbreak investigations. A new publication entitled "Guidance for Public Health Laboratories on the Isolation and Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) from Clinical Specimens" will be posted here in November 2011. The above Guidelines may be referenced until that time.