Some types of E. coli cause disease by making a toxin called Shiga toxin. The bacteria that make these toxins are called “Shiga toxin-producing” E. coli or STEC for short. They are also sometimes called verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC); however, these all generally refer to the same group of bacteria. The most commonly identified STEC in the U.S. is E. coli O157:H7.... [more]

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... [more]