Primary prevention

Effective measures to prevent HUS focus on decreasing the risk of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli gastroenteritis. These include:[30]

  • Testing of meat for E coli by producers

  • Irradiation of ground beef

  • Educational efforts to encourage thorough cooking of ground beef

  • Handwashing and other sanitary measures during food preparation

  • Avoidance of unpasteurised milk and juice

  • Washing of vegetables

  • Avoidance of contaminated water during recreational activities.

Secondary prevention

Children with the typical presentation of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection should be hospitalised to expedite evaluation and treatment. This possibly decreases the risk of complications and transmission.[8][49]

Systematic reviews have found no significant effect for antibiotic therapy, anti‐Shiga toxin antibody‐containing bovine colostrum, Shiga toxin binding agent (Synsorb Pk), or urtoxazumab (a monoclonal antibody against Shiga toxin) for the secondary prevention of HUS in patients with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)-associated diarrhoea (very low-quality evidence).[30][56]

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