Key Points

• In 2022, 253 cases of pediatric HUS were reported to Santé publique France, including one case in the French overseas departments and regions (DROM).

• The annual incidence of pediatric HUS was the highest observed since surveillance began in 1996. This sharp increase in incidence, observed across all age groups and in most regions, is partly linked to the occurrence of several outbreaks, including one of very large scale (57 confirmed cases), but remains high even when analysis is limited to sporadic cases.

• These outbreaks impacted the epidemiology of pediatric HUS cases in 2022, with two peaks in cases: the first in March–April linked to the frozen pizza-related outbreak, and the second during the summer, as is typically observed. Regional heterogeneity was observed, as in every year, but it was partly influenced by the distribution of outbreak-related cases in certain regions (Hauts-de-France, Île-de-France, Pays de la Loire, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur).

• Serogroup O26 remained the most prevalent and was responsible for two outbreaks. The number of O80 strains was stable, as was the number of O157 strains.