Eazyplex EHEC

When things have to go fast - eazyplex® EHEC!

Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are of particular importance among the intestinal pathogenic E. coli. Every year ~1000 EHEC diseases are reported in Germany.

The clinical symptoms caused by EHEC range from mild diarrhoea to severe gastroenteritis. to severe haemorrhagic colitis, occuring in ~10-20% of infections. Due to its high environmental resistance, the infectious dose of EHEC is only 100 germs, with multiple sources of infection such as contaminated food obtained from cattle, sheep or goats. Particularly, raw or insufficiently heated meat or meat products, unpasturised raw milk and contaminated fruit and vegetable products are a source for infection.

Chains of infecction from person-to-person, especially in community facilities, such as nurseries, care homes or hospitals, as well as direct contact with animals, are also a possibility. The requirements in the diagnostic laboratory are just as varied as the characteristics and chains of infection.