BACKGROUND: Verocytotoxin-producing @entity526 (VTEC) are bacteria that cause @entity1902 and in certain settings can cause @entity281 due to secondary transmission. We describe the findings of an investigation of a school-based outbreak of VTEC in Staffordshire, England. METHODS: Outbreak investigation at a school in February 2012 after two @entity1 were diagnosed with @entity21488 . Cases were defined as pupils and staff (or their household contacts) with gastrointestinal symptoms or asymptomatic screened @entity1 , with laboratory confirmed VTEC O157 infection (phage type 32, verocytotoxin 2) occurring on or after 1 February 2012. Microbiological tests of food and faecal samples plus screening of asymptomatic contacts were undertaken. Epidemiological and clinical data were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight cases were detected. Nineteen were asymptomatic and identified via screening of 191 pupils. Infection was introduced into the school from an earlier household cluster, followed by extensive @entity1 -to- @entity1 transmission within the nursery/ @entity1 group with limited spread to the wider school population. CONCLUSIONS: Control measures included several interventions, in particular, universal screening of pupils and staff. Screening during school outbreaks is not underpinned by guidance but proved to be a key control measure. Screening of asymptomatic contacts should be considered in similar outbreaks.

School outbreak of XXXX O157 with high levels of transmission, Staffordshire, England, February 2012.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'infant', 'person', 'persons'] @entity21488 :: ('MESH:D004927', 'Disease') :: ['VTEC infection'] @entity1902 :: ('MESH:D005759', 'Disease') :: ['infectious gastroenteritis'] @entity281 :: ('MESH:D007239', 'Disease') :: ['widespread infection'] @entity526 :: ('562', 'Species') :: ['Escherichia coli']
@entity526 :: (562,Species) :: ['Escherichia coli']
