Undercooked ground beef and person-to-person transmission as major risk factors for sporadic hemolytic uremic syndrome related to Shiga-toxin producing Escherchia coli infections in children in France.

In a prospective matched case-control study of sporadic pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome related to Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli infection in France, eating undercooked ground beef, contact with a person with diarrhea, and drinking well water during the summer period were identified as risk factors. Prevention efforts in France should focus on reducing not only food-borne but also person-to-person transmission.