June Sexton, Public Service Executive II
Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratories
Telephone Number: 785-296-1633

The enteric section isolates and identifies common enteric pathogens. These bacteria are generally associated with foodborne outbreaks and cause gastrointestinal illness in humans. The most commonly encountered organisms include Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and E.coli O157:H7. Less frequently illness can be caused by Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia enterocolitica, and toxin producing E. coli. In addition Salmonella and Shigella species are serotyped to help track infections. Serotyping is also used to confirm the identification of E. coli O157:H7 and testing of E. coli for Shiga toxin production is also available. Stool specimens for screening should be sent to the laboratory using bacterial culture kits provided by the laboratory or commercially available kits. Culture isolates sent to the laboratory for identification and/or serotyping should be sent in the Infectious Disease Shipper Boxes (IDS) provided by the laboratory and on appropriate media to ensure the organisms survival until it reaches the laboratory.