Pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: An overview of 10 years of surveillance in France, 2007–2016

Introduction: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the leading cause of acute kidney failure in young children. In France, HUS surveillance among children under 15 years of age was implemented beginning in 1996.Objective: We present the results of this surveillance from 2007 to 2016. Methods: A voluntary nationwide network of 32 pediatric departments reports cases. Two national reference centers perform microbiological confirmation of STEC. Results: Over the study period, the pediatric HUS incidence rate (IR) was 1.0 per 100,000 child-years, with a median of 116 cases per year. In 2011, the IR peaked at 1.3 per 100,000 child-years and decreased to 1.0 per 100,000 child-years in 2016. STEC O157-associated HUS peaked at 37 cases in 2011 and decreased to seven cases in 2016. Cases of STEC O26-associated HUS have increased since 2010, and STEC O80-associated HUS has emerged since 2012, with 28 and 18 cases, respectively, reported in 2016. Four STEC-HUS foodborne outbreaks were detected (three STEC O157 outbreaks linked to ground beef and raw-milk cheese and one STEC O104 outbreak linked to fenugreek sprouts). In addition, two outbreaks related to person-to-person transmission occurred in separate kindergartens (STEC O111 and O26). Conclusions: No major changes in HUS incidence rates were observed over the 10-year study period. However, changes in STEC serogroups over time and the detected outbreaks support the need for continued epidemiological and microbiological surveillance.

Author(s): Bruyand Mathias, Mariani-Kurkdjian Patricia, Le Hello Simon, King Lisa-A, Van Cauteren Dieter, Lefevre Sophie, Gouali Malika, Jourdan-da Silva Nathalie, Mailles Alexandra, Donguy Marie-Pierre, Loukiadis Estelle, Sergentet-Thevenot Delphine, Loirat Chantal, Bonacorsi Stéphane, Weill François-Xavier, De Valk Henriette

Publishing year: 2019

Pages: 1-9

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