Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC)


Statutory notification

Public health management

Important information

  • Infectious agent: Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli bacteria.
  • Transmission: Faecal-oral, food-borne, water-borne and animal-person.
  • Incubation period: From 1 to 10 days (usually 2 to 4 days).
  • Infectious period: Most infectious while symptomatic. The infectious dose is low. The duration of excretion of the pathogen is typically ≤1 week in adults but 3 weeks in 1/3 of children. Use contact transmission- based precautions for hospitalised and institutionalised patients.
  • Case exclusion: Until asymptomatic, including normal stools, for 24 hours. If patient works in health-care, aged-care, child-care or is a food handler or attends child-care, exclude until clearance specimens have been completed. See Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB).
  • Contact exclusion: Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts (PDF 764KB).
  • Treatment: Oral rehydration and appropriate treatment as recommended by doctor and clinical microbiologist.
  • Immunisation: None available.
  • Case follow-up: Cases followed up the Communicable Disease Control Directorate with assistance from the public health units (Healthy WA).

Guidelines

Notifiable disease data and reports

Produced by

Public Health