A Case of Infectious Enteritis Caused by Verotoxin-producing Escherichia Coli O157

• Published in: Nihon Fukubu Kyukyu Igakkai Zasshi (Journal of Abdominal Emergency Medicine) Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 893 - 896
• Main Authors: Naito, Minoru, Nakahara, Ryuichi, Sou, Junichi, Inukai, Michio, Kajitani, Nobutani, Ujike, Yoshihito, Ino, Hideo, Murakami, Masakazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine 2006; 日本腹部救急医学会
• Subjects: O157感染性腸炎; target sign; 著明な長官壁肥厚
• ISSN: 1340-2242; 1882-4781
• DOI: 10.11231/jaem1993.26.893

The subject was a 20-year-old male whose major symptoms were abdominal pains and loose stools. Since the FOM and antiflatulent that we prescribed for him did not improve his condition, he visited us again on the following day. A tumor in his right lower quadrant was identified with palpation, and localized muscular guarding was also present in the same region. In addition, an abdominal ultrasound test presented images similar to target signs and an abdominal CT scan revealed significant thickening of the ascending colon wall. Upon examination of the stool, O157 surface antigens turned out to be positive, and VT1 and VT2-producing Escherichia coli were found on the cultured stool sample. We therefore diagnosed his condition as an O157-induced infectious enteritis. In conclusion, we realized that it might be necessary to carry out examinations and treatments considering the possibility of O157-induced infectious enteritis when an imaging test finds significant localized thickening of the intestinal wall, even if no digestive symptoms such as frequent diarrhea and bloody stools are detected.