Concurrent outbreaks of <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 and O157:H39 with high asymptomatic carriage of other Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> in nursery children, south-east Scotland, United Kingdom, July to October 2022.

ABSTRACT: We managed a complex outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and stx-negative E. coli O157 (non-STEC) cases in four nurseries in two neighbouring towns in south-east Scotland, with epidemiological links through shared management, staff or other visits. There were 57 confirmed cases between July and October 2022. Nurseries voluntarily closed to support outbreak control. Subsequent whole genome sequencing identified two separate, unlinked outbreaks of stx2a-positive E. coli O157:H7 (19 confirmed cases in Nursery 1) and stx-negative E. coli O157:H39 (17 confirmed cases in Nursery 2). Smaller numbers of six additional STEC and E. coli O157 (non-STEC) strains were identified in the four nurseries. Five children from Nurse

SUBMITTER: Kirolos A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12639274 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature