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During the congress, E-Posters will be accessible to all participants on the congress website 24/7, as well as in the E-poster stations in the congress center.
Preparing your E-Poster
Please review the E-Poster format requirements carefully when preparing your E-Poster. Should your E-Poster not meet the mentioned requirements, it may not be displayed as described above.
E-Poster Submission Deadline
Please prepare and upload your E-Poster no later than March 14, 2026 11.59PM CET. After this date, you will no longer be able to prepare and upload your E-poster and it will not be displayed and accessible on the congress website.
Please follow the instructions below to input your abstract title.
Abstract titles should be brief and reflect the content of the abstract.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) related to Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection remains one of the most frequent causes of acute kidney injury in children and a persistent public health concern. Although acute bloody diarrhea (ABD) often precedes HUS, the narrow time window between onset and disease progression limits opportunities for preventive action. Recognizing this challenge, five major Italian pediatric societies (SIGENP, SIN, SIP, SIPPS, and SIMPIOS) established a joint task force to harmonize diagnostic and clinical approaches for children presenting with ABD and suspected STEC infection, aiming to lower both the incidence and severity of HUS.
A multidisciplinary working group of pediatric gastroenterologists, nephrologists, infectious disease specialists, and emergency physicians reviewed the available national and international literature, as well as current epidemiological data and clinical practice patterns. A structured consensus process—similar to the Delphi methodology—was carried out between March 2023 and June 2024, involving experts from tertiary pediatric hospitals and public health agencies. Consensus statements were developed and refined through multiple rounds, focusing on four main areas: (1) early diagnostic testing for STEC infection, (2) risk stratification for HUS development, (3) criteria for referral and clinical monitoring, and (4) preventive and supportive therapeutic strategies.
The consensus strongly supports early stool testing for stx genes in all children presenting with ABD, ideally within 24 hours of evaluation. Patients with confirmed Stx positivity should undergo repeated urine dipstick testing to identify hemoglobinuria, an early marker of impending HUS. The document recommends establishing rapid communication pathways among emergency departments, microbiology laboratories, and nephrology units to ensure timely diagnosis and coordinated management. Early and adequate fluid resuscitation remains the only intervention with proven benefit in reducing the severity of HUS. The group also discussed new evidence suggesting a possible preventive role for certain bacteriostatic antibiotics, such as azithromycin, during the initial phase of STEC infection, while emphasizing the need for further confirmation. The recommendations have been disseminated nationally through the SIGENP, SIN, and SIP networks and are currently being implemented within several regional pediatric emergency pathways.
This inter-society consensus provides a unified national framework for the early recognition and management of STEC infections in children. By promoting timely diagnosis, interdisciplinary communication, and standardized early interventions, it aims to decrease the progression to HUS and improve both short- and long-term renal outcomes. The initiative exemplifies how coordinated pediatric networks can effectively translate scientific evidence into clinical practice, fostering measurable improvements in patient safety and public health preparedness.
