Identifying hospital-onset Escherichia coli bacteraemia cases from English mandatory surveillance: the case for applying a two-day post-admission rule

Approximately one-fifth of E. coli bacteraemia cases reported via mandatory surveillance were identified as hospital-onset. Given that prevention and control strategies will vary by setting, the routine feedback of this information will prove important in informing infection prevention and control efforts. The categorization of this subset of cases represents an important step towards better understanding of the epidemiology of E. coli bacteraemia.