Clinical manifestations and stool load of atypical enteropathogenic E. coli infections in U.S. children and adults.

AEPEC is associated with a wide array of symptoms in adults ranging from asymptomatic carriage to severe diarrhea. Higher EPEC loads are associated with presence of symptoms, but bacterial load does not predict disease or severity. Future studies are needed to understand bacterial and host factors that contribute to aEPEC pathogenicity to improve diagnostic tools and clinical care.