ABSTRACT
We report a case of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection in which EHEC was not detected by culture on DHL agar medium. The proportion of EHEC bacterial count to enterobacterial count in feces was 1.7%, and the detection probability by 5-colony angling was low (8.1%). The probability of angling detection using CHROMagar STEC, a chromogenic medium for detecting EHEC, was high (100%). An additional and collection test was done using E. coli bacterial solutions to which two main sera groups--O157 and O26 were added. The maximum detectable level in the bacterial solution with O157 was 10(3)-10(4) CFU/mL in DHL and 10(2) CFU/mL in CHROMagar STEC. Bacterial solution levels with O26 were 10(3) CFU/mL in DHL and 10(2) CFU/mL in CHROMagar STEC. Assuming that the EHEC bacterial amount in feces of those with EHEC infection is low, we speculated that CHROMagar STEC may be useful as on EHEC screening medium.