Letter to Editor
E. coli doesn't kill, but its toxin does
By Michael Davis
Sep 26, 2006 - 7:14:00 PM

In your article "E. coli outbreak: What you need to know" I realize the O157 is the bad boy but the point is the toxin (SLT1 and/or SLT2) produced causes the problem. There are a number of other "O" type E. coli that also produce this toxin. It is important that the samples should also be tested for these toxins and not just O157.

Michael Davis - Project Associate
The Pennsylvania State University
Gastroenteric Disease Laboratory
Wiley Laboratory, Wiley Lane
University Park, PA 16802
phone/fax 814-863-2167

http://ecoli.cas.psu.edu/
mad5@@psu.edu

Editor's note: Thank Michael Davis for pointing that out. Indeed, it would be better to test both E. coli and its toxin(s).