There is an increase of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections across England, Scotland and Wales.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) ask GPs to read and note the urgent letter, which contains further details in the download section. 

Healthcare professionals may see increased attendances related to gastrointestinal illness. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, blood in stools and fever. Up to 15% of child cases of STEC progress to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) within seven days of onset.

Actions required:

• cases of infectious bloody diarrhoea and HUS cases must be notified to the UKHSA via your local health protection team (HPT) on clinical suspicion, regardless of the microbiology
• send a faecal sample (stool or a rectal swab) to the local microbiology laboratory labelled as ‘suspected STEC’ or ‘suspected HUS’ and mark as URGENT.

It is particularly important to obtain a faecal specimen from the following categories:

• those with bloody diarrhoea
• those who are systemically unwell
• young children (five years and under)
• the immunocompromised
• food handlers
• those working in health and social care.

Find your local health protection team or access details on the notification of infectious diseases and health hazards service page below.