[Shiga-toxin associated hemolytic uremic syndrome: How to prevent it?]

Abstract

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with intestinal infection by Shiga toxin-producing bacteria, which mainly affects children, can cause severe acute morbidity, chronic sequelae in seve ral organs, and premature death in some of them. Given its zoonotic nature, adequate measures of agricultural management and proper hygiene of what we consume are essential to prevent infection. Once the HUS is triggered, medical management is currently mainly supportive. In recent years, va rious therapeutic strategies have been developed to prevent this disease from occurring or, at least, to mitigate its morbidity and mortality consequences. This article describes specific actions at different levels of prevention of this pathology.