Four-Year Experience with Simultaneous Culture and Shiga Toxin Testing for Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Stool Samples

摘要

We report our experience with universal Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) screening using culture and Shiga toxin antigen testing over 4 years. Twelve cases were detected—8 detected by both culture and Shiga toxin immunochromatographic assay (IA), 3 by culture, and 1 by IA only. The addition of Shiga toxin testing is of questionable benefit over culture alone for detection of STEC in areas of low prevalence.