What We Do
Santé publique France has been coordinating the surveillance of pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome in France since 1996. It also contributes to the prevention of this disease.
Epidemiological surveillance of pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome
In France, testing for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in stool samples is not routinely performed by medical laboratories. In children, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is most often secondary to an STEC infection. In France, since 1996, surveillance of these infections has therefore been based on monitoring HUS in children under 15 years of age. This surveillance makes it possible to describe the spatial and temporal trends of pediatric HUS as well as the epidemiological characteristics of reported cases. It also enables the detection of outbreaks and guides control measures.
Reporting of pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome cases
The surveillance network comprises 32 pediatric nephrology and pediatrics hospital departments that report cases on a voluntary basis. In addition to this network, any hospital department may report cases of pediatric HUS. For each case, the departments submit a standardized notification form to Santé publique France, accompanied by a dietary questionnaire completed by the parents.
The National Reference Center for Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella (Institut Pasteur, Paris) and its associated NRC (AP-HP Robert Debré University Hospital, Microbiology Department, Paris) confirm infections by isolating and characterizing the bacterial strains involved. Since 2017, strains isolated by the associated NRC have undergone whole-genome sequencing at the NRC located at the Institut Pasteur.
Santé publique France conducts this epidemiological surveillance in collaboration with its partners: pediatric and pediatric nephrology departments at hospitals in Amiens, Angers, Angoulême, Annecy, Besançon, Bordeaux, Brest, Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Kremlin-Bicêtre, Grenoble, Lille, Limoges, Lisieux, Lyon (HFME), Marseille, Montpellier, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Paris (Necker-Enfants Malades, R. Debré, Trousseau), Poitiers, Reims, Rennes, Rouen, Saint-Étienne, Strasbourg, Toulouse, and Tours.
Surveillance of pediatric HUS is supplemented by the mandatory reporting (DO) of foodborne illness outbreaks (TIAC).
Santé publique France initiates an epidemiological investigation if cases of HUS or STEC infection clustered in time and/or space are reported. The investigation aims to determine whether these infections share a common source. If so, control measures guided by the investigation findings are implemented to prevent new cases from occurring.
Monitoring of typical hemolytic-uremic syndrome in children under 15 years of age
depliant/flyer
20 October 2023
Surveillance of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)
The contact information for the National Reference Center for Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella (Institut Pasteur, Research and Expertise Unit on Enteric Pathogenic Bacteria, Paris) and its associated National Reference Center (AP-HP Robert Debré University Hospital, Microbiology Department, Paris), as well as the information sheets that must accompany all shipments of biological material, are available online.
See also
See also
Measures to Prevent Pediatric Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome
Santé publique France also informs the general public about hygiene measures and provides prevention tools:
In relation to
Outbreaks of foodborne illness
thematic dossier
A foodborne illness outbreak is defined as the occurrence of at least two cases with similar symptoms—typically gastrointestinal—that can be traced to a single food source. In France, such...
