The Scottish Health Protection Network (SHPN) guidance for Public health management of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection has been updated.
The guidance is intended for all professionals involved in the health protection or public health response to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) cases and outbreaks including environmental health departments.
The guidance includes information on:
- case and contact definitions for use by public health professionals
- recommended public health actions for cases and contacts
- outbreak identification and response
Updates to the guidance include:
- Section added in recognition of relative difference in severity in relation to stx subtype
- Higher risk category for children expanded from under 5 years to 5 and under (up to sixth birthday)
- No public health action beyond enhanced surveillance form to be taken on stx negative O157
- Asymptomatic testing of the whole population in a setting (e.g. an entire nursery class) not routinely recommended
- New section on health inequalities
