Haemolytic‐uraemic syndrome outbreak caused byEscherichia coliO111:H–: clinical outcomes

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Abstract
In South Australia in 1995, we treated 20 children with haemolytic‐uraemic syndrome associated with Escherichia coli 0111:H‐. The source of the outbreak was contaminated locally produced semi‐dry fermented sausage (mettwurst). One child died of multiple haemorrhagic cerebral infarcts. Eighteen children required renal dialysis (for a median of 14 days); 12 months after discharge five still had significant impairment of renal function. Other major complications included colonic necrosis (3), cerebral haemorrhage/infarction (3), convulsions (4), and glucose intolerance (2). Although E.coli 0111:H‐ has been associated with sporadic cases of haemolytic‐uraemic syndrome, this was the first large outbreak reported in Australia.