This invention is directed to the surprising and unexpected discovery that the clinical incidence of HUS arising from enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection is significantly reduced by the time critical administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically inert affinity support comprising an alpha Gal(1}4) beta Gal subunit which subunit binds the SLT. Specifically, it has been found that the clinical incidence of HUS arising from enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection is reduced when this pharmaceutical composition is administered within 3 days of presentation of the infection. Contrarily, administration of this pharmaceutical composition after this time frame or when organs other than the intestine are involved in the infection, substantially reduces the ability of this composition to reduce the incidence of HUS.
