More than 2,000 cases of Shiga-Toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC) were reported in England in 2022, an increase of almost 80 percent compared to the previous year.
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 2,063 cultivated cases of STEC were reported, an increase of 79.2 percent compared to 1,151 in 2021.
UKHSA said in 2020 and 2021 that it was likely that the COVID-19 Pandemie and measures to control the transfer of the virus in various ways to control the reports of STEC infections to national surveillance.
E. Coli O157 figures
There were 762 cases of Stec O157 confirmed by culture in England in 2022, more than double the 365 registered in 2021 and higher than pre-pandemic level. It is the highest percentage in almost a decade and stops the downward trend that has been seen since 2015. A large outbreak with 195 cases has contributed to the increase, but does not fully explain the increase, said Ukhsa.
More Up -To -date figures show 538 STEC O157 cases in 2023 and 567 in 2024.
The highest incidence in 2022 was in the northeast and the lowest was in London. From 762, Stec O157 confirmed 417 female.
STEC O157 infections usually peaks in the summer months of July or August. In 2022, however, infections peaked in September due to a large outbreak in the UK.
A total of 223 of 722 confirmed STEC O157 cases in the hospital and 13 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Hus is a clinical syndrome related to E. coli, which can lead to kidney failure and death. Three deaths for adults were reported to STEC O157 cases.
Children from 1 to 4 years old had the highest annual incidence of infections by STEC O157 and non-O157.
Twenty -six cases were infected with multiple serial groups. The most common serial groups in a co-infection were O157, O146 and O26.
Non-O157 data
There were also 1,998 cases of Stec Non-O157, an increase of 62 percent compared to 1,234 in 2021. The most isolated serogroups were O26, O146, O91, O103 and O128AB.
The total comprised 1,301 by culture confirmed Stec-O157 samples and 697 that were PCR positive, but Stec could not be grown. 90 different sera groups of the culture -positive cases were confirmed.
Of the 1,998 cases, 1,177 were female. There was a peak of infections in the late summer and autumn months from July to October with a second peak in November.
A total of 176 of 600 non-O157 cases were admitted to the hospital and 32 developed HUS. The most isolated sero groups of HUS cases were O26, O145 and O121. Three dead were reported in non-O157 cases, including two adults and one child.
Four STEC outbreaks of 299 people, including 235 who lived in England, were investigated in 2022. One accompanying death was registered.
An outbreak of E. Coli O157 with 195 fallen in England, 18 in Noord -Irland, 33 in Scotland, and 13 in Wales was reduced to balance leaves. In general, 75 people were admitted to the hospital. Another outbreak of E. Coli O157 with 18 cases and 10 hospital admissions was linked to a beef product.
Soft cheese was behind an outbreak of E. Coli O103 with 10 suitcases in England and two in Wales. An outbreak of E. Coli O145 with 10 cases and three hospital admissions was linked to pasteurized milk. An investigation pointed to post -pasteurization -infection of milk, probably because of infected bottles that were insufficiently sterilized and not retaining the cold chain.
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