[Epidemiological and bacteriological investigation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection in the Chugoku-Shikoku area].

We investigated the occurring tendency of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection in the prefectural and municipal public health institutes in the Chugoku-Shikoku area from 1996 to 1999, and the bacteriological characteristics of EHEC isolated from these cases. Consequently, epidemiological analysis of the EHEC infection in this district was performed. 22 outbreaks in the various facilities showed the tendency occurred in infants and aged groups, and the serotypes of EHEC isolated from these outbreaks were O26, O111 etc.