The isolation of cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF)-producing Escherichia coli from the intestinal contents of babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other causes as well as from the faeces of healthy babies.

Strains of Escherichia coli producing cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF) have been isolated from intestinal contents of 16.8% of babies who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and 16.5% of faeces from healthy babies. While no difference in CNF carriage was seen, it is noteworthy that these CNF-producing E. coli are present in such specimens. Some of the CNF-producing E. coli belonged to serotypes associated with this factor in other parts of the world.