EC 0157:H7 SELECTIVE BROTH (TWIN PACK)

Description

Enterohemorrhagic E.coli strains are also termed as verocytotoxin-producing E.coli (VTEC/ EHEC). Although many different serotypes of Escherichia coli are known to produce verocytotoxin those of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O157:H are so far the common types causing human infections. O157 VTEC strains have several unusual biochemical characters that are exploited in methods for their laboratory identification. Enterohemorrhagic E.coli (EHEC) can cause severe foodborne disease. EHEC is the primary cause of hemorrhagic colitis. This infection can also lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome. It is transmitted to humans primarily through consumption of contaminated foods, such as raw or undercooked ground meat products and raw milk. Its significance as a public health problem was recognized in 1982, following an outbreak in the United States of America. EHEC produces toxins, known as verotoxins or Shiga-like toxins because of their similarity to the toxins produced by Shigella dysenteriae.