Renal prognosis of toxigenic Escherichia coli infection

There is a spectrum of acute illness for individuals who ingest toxigenic Escherichia coli, ranging from no symptoms to self-limited gastroenteritis, to full acute hemolytic uremic syndrome. Knowledge of the long-term prognosis of acute toxigenic E. coli ingestion, based on the presentation of acute illness, is important for patient counseling and follow-up. Here, we consider subsequent 5-year renal outcomes for groups of individuals who presented across a spectrum of acute illness during a municipal water outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in Walkerton, Canada.