McKee RS, et al. - Researchers sought for the clinical and laboratory factors associated with Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection in children (younger than 18 years) who present with acute bloody diarrhea. It was noted that an STEC infection and the consequent risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome could not be reliably excluded using clinical assessment and laboratory data of children with bloody diarrhea. Insufficient sensitivity and specificity of abnormal D-dimer concentrations (>0.5 μg/mL) were noted for distinguishing patients with STEC from those with another bacterial cause of bloody diarrhea. However, children whose bloody diarrhea is caused by a bacterial enteric pathogen can be recognized with this marker.