Evans C J, Cowden J M, Breen D, Thomson-Carter F
Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health, Glasgow.
Commun Dis Public Health. 2000 Sep;3(3):201-7.
Recognition of the potential of Escherichia coli O157 and other Vero cytotoxin producing E. coli (VTEC) organisms to cause serious disease led to the recommendation that all diarrhoeal stool specimens be examined for E. coli O157. National guidelines exist for the testing and exclusion of cases and contacts of VTEC infection. A survey was conducted to discover the extent to which these recommendations are followed in Scotland by asking about current practices for public health management of identified cases and laboratory investigation of E. coli infection. About two thirds of Scottish health boards followed national guidelines for testing and exclusion of cases and contacts of VTEC O157 infection. Most laboratories tested all diarrhoeal stools for E. coli O157 but detection methods varied and a minority tested selected stools for non-O157 E. coli serogroups. Standardisation of policies for laboratory testing of VTEC infection would improve national surveillance. Adherence to evidence based guidelines would standardise public health management of VTEC infections in Scotland.
认识到大肠杆菌O157及其他产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（VTEC）导致严重疾病的可能性，促使人们建议对所有腹泻粪便标本进行大肠杆菌O157检测。对于VTEC感染病例及接触者的检测和排除，已有国家指南。通过询问已确诊病例的公共卫生管理现状以及大肠杆菌感染的实验室调查情况，开展了一项调查，以了解苏格兰在何种程度上遵循了这些建议。约三分之二的苏格兰卫生委员会遵循了国家关于检测和排除VTEC O157感染病例及接触者的指南。大多数实验室对所有腹泻粪便进行大肠杆菌O157检测，但检测方法各不相同，少数实验室对选定的粪便检测非O157大肠杆菌血清群。VTEC感染实验室检测政策的标准化将改善国家监测。遵循循证指南将使苏格兰VTEC感染的公共卫生管理标准化。
