ABSTRACT
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection can cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Since 1994 we have carried out surveillance for this infection in the south of Choongnam Province, in Korea. We investigated the patients with diarrhea who had admitted in Soonchunhyang University Chunan Hospital(Total : 130, age; from infant to elderly), from May 1994 through February 1996. E. coli O157 : H7, O26 : H11, O128 : H2, O111 : H- serotype were assessed by the slide agglutination test. E. coli culture was positive in the 53(male 33, female 20) out of 130 patients with diarrhea. One case of E. coli O157 : H7 infection was identified. He was 30 days old infant lived in Dangjin rural area. He suffered from bloody diarrhea and anemia with acute renal failure, suggesting hemolytic uremic syndrome which is a well recognized complication of E. coli O157 : H7 infection. We have to aware of the possibility of outbreaks of E. coli O157 : H7 infection in this area.