The Emergence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infection in the United States

In this issue ofThe Journal, Besser et al present findings from an outbreak ofEscherichia coliO157:H7 that occurred in southeastern Massachusetts in the fall of 1991.¹Twenty-three cases ofE coliO157:H7 infection were identified; four had a diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a well-recognized complication ofE coliO157:H7 infection. The outbreak was identified because the cases of HUS clustered...