Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli (STEC)
This assay is only available as part of a panel and cannot be ordered individually.
Shiga Toxin 1 (Stx1) and Shiga Toxin 2 (Stx2) producing E. coli (STEC) (E. coli O157 and non-O157 STEC) cause approximately 100,000 illnesses, 3,000 hospitalizations, and 90 deaths annually in the United States.1 The ability of non-O157 strains to cause disease is related to production of toxins, Stx1 and Stx2. Non-O157 Stx1 and Stx2 toxins are very similar to those produced by the O157 STEC; therefore, non-O157 STEC strains cause a similar range of illness severity to O157 STEC, and can result in the same complications.2 In 2009, there were 3,573 cases of STEC reported in the EU with more than half (51.7%) associated with the O157 serogroup.3 In Canada the national incidence rate was 1.8 per 100,000 in 2009.4 In the U.S. in 2010, the incidence of STEC non-O157 was 1.0 per 100,000 and 0.9 per 100,000 for STEC O157.5 Compared to the previous year, this results in an increase in the STEC non-O157 incidence (1.0 versus 0.61 in 2009), and a reduction in the STEC O157 incidence (0.9 versus 0.98 in 2009).5,6
References
1. Gould LH, Bopp C, Strockbine N, et al. Recommendations for diagnosis of shiga toxin--producing Escherichia coli infections by clinical laboratories. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2009 Oct 16:58(RR-12):1-14.
2. Schlenker C, Surawicz CM. Emerging infections of the gastrointestinal tract. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol. 2009;23(1):89-99.
3. European Food Safety Authority, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Foodborne Outbreaks in 2009. EFSA Journal 2011. 2011;9(3):2090. [378pp.] Available online: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2090.htm.
4. National Enteric Surveillance Program (NESP). Annual Summary of Laboratory Surveillance Data for Enteric Pathogens in Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada. Available from: http://www.nml-lnm.gc.ca/NESP-PNSME/assets/pdf/NESP_2009_Annual_Report_ENG.pdf
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vital Signs: Incidence and Trends of Infection with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food - Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 1996-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011 Jun 10;60(22):749-55.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet): FoodNet Surveillance Report for 2009 (Final Report). Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. 2011. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/PDFs/FoodNetAR2009_FINAL.pdf.
Specimens are approved for testing in New York only when indicated in the Specimen Information field above.
The CPT codes provided are based on Viracor Eurofins' interpretation of the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and are provided for general informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Questions regarding coding should be addressed to your local Medicare carrier. Viracor Eurofins assumes no responsibility for billing errors due to reliance on the CPT codes illustrated in this material.