Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a very serious blood disease that is the leading cause of kidney failure for children in the U.S. While most foodborne illness related cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) are tied to E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, E. coli O157:H7 is not the only food pathogen that can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Some of the recognized pathogens that have been linked to HUS include other E. coli bacteria such as serotypes O26, O111, O113, O121, O124 and O145. In addition to the E. coli O sero groups there are other bacteria such as various sero groups belonging to Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia and Staphylococcus. While hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) complications from foodborne pathogens other than E. coli O157:H7 are a rare occurrence, these food pathogens pose a genuine threat to the well being and life of anyone who has the misfortune to ingest them.
