Foodborne disease significance of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other enterohemorrhagic E-coli

The unusually virulent enterohemorrhagic strains of Escherichia coli, including the O157:H7 serotype, have prompted food microbiologists to rewrite the rule book on food safety. These pathogens are more significant than other well-recognized foodborne pathogens for reasons including the severe consequences of infection that affect all age groups, their low infectious dose, their unusual acid tolerance, and their apparent special but inexplicable association with ruminants that are used for food.