Community outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome attributable to Escherichia coli O111:NM--South Australia 1995.

Postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, renal injury, and thrombocytopenia and is associated with infection with Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (SLTEC). From January 4 through February 20, 1995, the South Australian Communicable Disease Control Unit of the Health Commission (SACDCU) received reports of 23 cases of HUS among children aged < 16 years who resided in South Australia. In comparison, during 1994, a total of three cases of HUS was reported in South Australia (1991 population: 1.4 million). This report summarizes preliminary findings of the investigation of this outbreak by SACDCU, Women's and Children's Hospital, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, and the National Center for Epidemiology and Population Health of Australian National University.