Resumo

HANNAOUI RODRIGUEZ, Erika Josefina; VILLALOBOS, Luz Bettina  e  ARTINEZ NAZARET, Rosa Elena. Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli: pathogenesis, diagnostic and treatment. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.1, pp.13-20. ISSN 1315-2556.

Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STES) belongs to the group of diarrhoea producing bacteria, pathology which still constitutes one of the main causes of morbility in children at a world wide level. STES produces one or more shiga toxins (Stx1, Stx 2 and their variants) which is their main pathogenicity factor, responsible for the intestinal and systemic complications. Transmission can occur person-to-person, or through contaminated water or food. Its capacity for producing epidemic outbreaks and the seriousness of the enteritis complications are what confers this microorganism great public health importance. This pathogen is not usually detected at clinical laboratories due to its biochemical and clinical similarities with other enterical pathogens, and it necessary to use serological and molecular methods for its definitive identification and characterization. In this paper, we have revised available information regarding pathogenicity, diagnosis and treatment of STES produced infections

Palavras-chave : E. coli; shiga toxin; enteropathogen; enteritis; diagnosis.