Background: Infection with Escherichia coli O157 (O157) can lead to the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Treating O157 infections with antibiotics is a possible risk factor for HUS development; however, previous studies evaluating this relationship have yielded conflicting results. The objective of this study was to further evaluate this issue.
Methods: An age-matched case-case comparison study comprising Minnesota residents less than 20 years of age with culture-confirmed O157 infection who did (n = 66) or did not (n = 129) subsequently develop HUS was conducted. Subjects were identified through statewide surveillance activities by the Minnesota Department of Health from 1996 to 2002.
Results: Overall antibiotic treatment was not associated with the development of HUS. Self-reported vomiting and female gender were significantly associated with the development of HUS. After adjustment for illness severity and gender, subjects who developed HUS were more likely to have been treated only with bactericidal antibiotics within the first 3 days (adjusted matched odds ratio [OR], 12.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-110.3) or within the first 7 days (OR, 18.0; 95% CI, 1.9-170.9) after the onset of diarrhea. In particular, the use of β-lactams (penicillins or cephalosporins) in the first 3 days after diarrhea onset was also significant after adjustment (OR, 11.3; 95% CI, 1.2-106.7).
Conclusions: Individuals infected with O157 infection presenting with a more severe illness were at an increased risk of developing HUS. The use of bactericidal antibiotics, particularly β-lactams, to treat O157 infection was associated with the subsequent development of HUS.