Approaches to treatment of emerging Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections highlighting the O104:H4 serotype

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a group of diarrheagenic bacteria associated with foodborne outbreaks. Infection with these agents may result in grave sequelae that include fatality. A large number of STEC serotypes has been identified to date. E. coli serotype O104:H4 is an emergi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology 2015-03, Vol.5, p.24-24
Main Authors: Rahal, Elias A, Fadlallah, Sukayna M, Nassar, Farah J, Kazzi, Natalie, Matar, Ghassan M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibodies - therapeutic use
Antimicrobial agents
Escherichia coli Infections - drug therapy
Escherichia coli Infections - epidemiology
Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology
Europe - epidemiology
Hemolytic uremic syndrome
Hemorrhagic colitis
Humans
Microbiology
Probiotics - therapeutic use
Shiga Toxin 1
Shiga Toxin 2
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli - drug effects
Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli - genetics
Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a group of diarrheagenic bacteria associated with foodborne outbreaks. Infection with these agents may result in grave sequelae that include fatality. A large number of STEC serotypes has been identified to date. E. coli serotype O104:H4 is an emerging pathogen responsible for a 2011 outbreak in Europe that resulted in over 4000 infections and 50 deaths. STEC pathogenicity is highly reliant on the production of one or more Shiga toxins that can inhibit protein synthesis in host cells resulting in a cytotoxicity that may affect various organ systems. Antimicrobials are usually avoided in the treatment of STEC infections since they are believed to induce bacterial cell lysis and the release of stored toxins. Some antimicrobials have also been reported to enhance toxin synthesis and production from these organisms. Various groups have attempted alternative treatment approaches including the administration of toxin-directed antibodies, toxin-adsorbing polymers, probiotic agents and natural remedies. The utility of antibiotics in treating STEC infections has also been reconsidered in recent years with certain modalities showing promise.
ISSN:2235-2988
2235-2988
DOI:10.3389/fcimb.2015.00024