[Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli in Taiwan].

From July 1994 through June 1996, 28 strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from 1,260 patients with acute diarrhea. These strains were further differentiated with serotypes and virulence factors. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), and enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) were accounted for 53.6 (15 of 28 strains), 28.6 (8 of 28), 10.7 (3 of 28) and 7.1% (2 of 28), respectively. Therefore, ETEC and EPEC are playing an important role in food-borne illness in Taiwan. Escherichia coli O157:H7, a new emerging pathogen of food-borne disease, has not been isolated in this study.