Surveillance of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli in Australia

All Australian States and Territories have low rates (≤ 0.32 cases per 100,000 population) of notiÞ cation for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), except for South Australia where the rates are tenfold higher at 2.58 cases per 100,000 population. To explore possible reasons for the variation in rates we surveyed public health reference laboratories to determine the methods used and number of specimens tested for these organisms. Only Þ ve of eight jurisdictions routinely conducted testing for STEC, and polymerase chain based tests were most common. Culture was also common and in one jurisdiction that tests specimens with culture, approximately 1.2 per cent of specimens were positive. The notiÞ cation rates for different jurisdictions res ected the number of specimens tested, with jurisdiction testing ≤ 500 specimens having rates ≤ 0.32 cases per 100,000 population. The use of culture as a test method may also ins uence notiÞ cation rates. Public health agencies must consider the number of specimens tested in interpreting surveillance data. Commun Dis Intell 2005;29:366–369.