What is E coli O157?

A verocytotoxin-producing serogroup belonging to the O subfamily of Escherichia coli which has been shown to cause severe food-borne disease. Recently, a strain from this serogroup, serotype H7 which produces Shiga-like toxins, has been linked to human disease outbreaks resulting from contamination of foods from bovine origin. This serogroup causes hemorrhagic and HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME and predominantly hemorrhagic diarrhea and GASTROENTERITIS in children.