Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and current trends in diagnostics

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are bacterial pathogens responsible for deadly foodborne outbreaks and sporadic illnesses globally. Children under five are most susceptible to severe complications and death. Seven main serogroups (O157 and top six non-O157: O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145) have been identified as causing the majority of STEC infections in humans. Beef products are one frequent source of infection, necessitating robust surveillance programs. However, detection and isolation methods for clinically relevant serogroups have several inherent limitations, making routine screening for these pathogens difficult and time consuming. These pathogens are constantly evolving, further allowing them to evade current detection methods. Developments in technology and genomic sequencing may improve our knowledge of these pathogens, thereby enhancing surveillance systems. With intensive beef production systems and a growing global demand for food, such advances are essential to improve food safety.