Ameer Muhammad Atif, Salen Philip
Suburban Community Hospital
St. Luke's University Hospital
First isolated in 1982, Shiga toxin-producing O157: H7 has become an important food and waterborne pathogen that causes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. An enterohemorrhagic bacterial strain, O157: H7 infects the alimentary tract and induces abdominal cramps with hemorrhagic diarrhea. Transmission of O157: H7 occurs via the fecal-oral route after consumption of contaminated, undercooked liquids and foods. Alternatively, 0157: H7 can be transmitted by person-to-person through fecal shedding and accounts for an estimated 11% of infections. The production of Shiga toxins is a key factor contributing to the development of HUS. Enterohemorrhagic O157: H7 induces illness secondary to its production of Shiga toxin that causes a range of gastrointestinal illnesses, from watery diarrhea to hemorrhagic colitis. 0157: H7 induces enterohemorrhagic disease that can cause systemic illness by hemolytic uremic syndrome, which manifests as hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. HUS can result in both acute, potentially life-threatening illness and lifelong, chronic illness.[2]
产志贺毒素的O157:H7于1982年首次被分离出来，已成为一种重要的食源性和水源性病原体，可导致人类腹泻、出血性结肠炎和溶血性尿毒症综合征（HUS）。作为一种肠出血性细菌菌株，O157:H7感染消化道并引发伴有出血性腹泻的腹部绞痛。O157:H7通过食用受污染的未煮熟液体和食物经粪口途径传播。此外，O157:H7可通过粪便排出在人与人之间传播，估计占感染病例的11%。志贺毒素的产生是导致溶血性尿毒症综合征发展的关键因素。肠出血性O157:H7产生志贺毒素，继而引发疾病，可导致一系列胃肠道疾病，从水样腹泻到出血性结肠炎。O157:H7引发的肠出血性疾病可通过溶血性尿毒症综合征导致全身疾病，表现为溶血性贫血、血小板减少和急性肾衰竭。溶血性尿毒症综合征可导致急性、可能危及生命的疾病以及终身慢性疾病。[2]
