There’s a newly-identified E. coli strain that’s causing a serious illness called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The recent cases, mainly in northern Europe, have been attributed to eating raw vegetables like cucumbers, lettuce and tomato. So far, authorities aren’t sure of the exact source.
Like any stomach bug, these bacteria can cause diarrhea, fever and other symptoms related to the gut. When people develop HUS, the kidneys fail and they may need dialysis. (Uremic Syndrome refers to uremia, when toxins normally cleared by the kidneys circulate in the bloodstream and cause problems in other body parts.)
blood smear reveals fragmented red blood cells (schistocytes), image from Wikimedia Commons
The “H” in HUS is for hemolytic, which describes how red blood cells are destroyed in the bloodstream. This occurs sometimes from effects of a bacterial toxin, such as might happen upon ingestion of a toxic strain of E. coli bacteria. This condition results in
See more A New E. Coli Outbreak, Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome, and Eating In or Out
