Identification of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O117:H7 in men who have sex with men, England, November 2013 to August 2014

I Simms; V L Gilbart; L Byrne; C Jenkins; G K Adak; G Hughes; P D Crook

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.43.20946

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Identification of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O117:H7 in men who have sex with men, England, November 2013 to August 2014
I Simms¹ , V L Gilbart¹ , L Byrne² , C Jenkins³ , G K Adak² , G Hughes¹ , P D Crook⁴
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Affiliations: ¹ HIV and STI Department, Public Health England Health Protection Services, Colindale, United Kingdom ² Gastrointestinal, Emerging and Zoonotic Infections Department, Public Health England Health Protection Services, Colindale, United Kingdom ³ Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit, Public Health England Reference Microbiology Services, Colindale, United Kingdom ⁴ Public Health England Health Protection Field Epidemiology Services, London, United Kingdom

Correspondence:
I Simms
ian.simms phe.gov.uk
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Citation style for this article: Simms I, Gilbart V L, Byrne L, Jenkins C, Adak G K, Hughes G, Crook P D. Identification of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O117:H7 in men who have sex with men, England, November 2013 to August 2014. Euro Surveill. 2014;19(43):pii=20946. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.43.20946 Received: 06 Oct 2014

Abstract

Between November 2013 and August 2014, nine cases of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O117:H7 VT1 were confirmed in adult men. Further investigation using semi-structured interviews revealed that eight cases were United Kingdom (UK)-born men who have sex with men (MSM) who had sexually acquired infection in the UK. Most were HIV-positive with high numbers of sexual partners. This behavioural profile resembles that associated with the recent rapid increase in other sexually acquired infections in MSM.