In the past year, Italy has reported nearly 70 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a severe complication linked to E. coli infections. HUS often leads to kidney failure and is a significant concern for public health.
Data collected between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, indicates that 68 cases of HUS were documented, with a majority of patients being under 15 years old. The Italian Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Registry, managed by the Italian Society of Pediatric Nephrology and the National Institute of Health (ISS), tracks these cases across the country.
The geographical distribution of these cases shows that patients came from 18 different regions of Italy, with two cases residing abroad and six developing symptoms after traveling overseas.
The majority of cases were concentrated in Puglia, Campania, and Veneto. This spread highlights the widespread impact of the syndrome and the challenges in managing and preventing its spread.
The median age of patients with HUS in the specified period was three years old, indicating a high incidence among young children. There was a notable decrease in cases reported in the first half of 2024, especially in February and March, where only one case was recorded. Despite this, the summer months of July and August 2023 saw an increase in reported cases compared to previous years.
Among the patients with confirmed STEC (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli) infections, 53 had information on the specific serogroups involved. Most of these infections were linked to the top five STEC serogroups: O26, O157, O111, O145, and O103. Notably, E. coli O26 was the most prevalent serogroup, accounting for 27 cases, aligning with broader European trends where STEC O26 is commonly associated with HUS.
Comparatively, the number of HUS cases in Italy has been relatively stable over the past two years, with 73 cases recorded between July 2022 and June 2023. This contrasts with a sharp increase in France, which reported 253 HUS cases in 2022, the highest since surveillance began in 1996. This surge in France underscores the importance of continued vigilance and effective response strategies to manage HUS and related infections.
