Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria found in the intestines that can provide benefits to the host but can also cause harm. Improper waste disposal and poor hygiene can lead to contamination of food and water, causing infections. There are five harmful strains of E. coli that can cause gastrointestinal problems, urinary tract infections, and meningitis in infants. Treatment involves antibiotics, hydration, and electrolyte replacement.
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a group of bacteria that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Most of this type of bacteria are normal inhabitants of the intestines, providing benefits to the health of the individual by preventing the growth of other harmful organisms. There are other strains of Escherichia coli, however, that can often cause harm to the host. Infection with these harmful bacterial strains can often lead to gastroenteritis, meningitis in infants, and urinary tract infections, among other illnesses.
In most cases, Escherichia coli can survive in the environment outside the human body. The feces of infected individuals usually contain the organisms. With improper waste disposal, organisms can contaminate drinking water and lead to widespread infection. Poor hygiene habits among food handlers can also lead to food contamination and infection. Person-to-person contact with infected individuals with poor health habits can also lead to E. coli infection.
There are five pathogenic or harmful strains of Escherichia coli that can cause gastrointestinal problems in people. They are Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and enteroaggregating E. coli (EAEC). Most of them are spread through the ingestion of contaminated food and water.
STEC can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome and haemorrhagic colitis in infected patients. These organisms produce a toxin within the body which can lead to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. ETEC and EAEC, on the other hand, are the Escherichia coli strains that can cause traveler’s diarrhea, while EPEC can cause watery diarrhea. EIEC is more severe, leading to dysentery or bloody, mucoid diarrhea accompanied by pain, tenesmus, and dehydration.
Outside the intestines, Escherichia coli can invade the urinary tract, resulting in a urinary tract infection (UTI). In infants, it can sometimes cause meningitis, which is often a serious condition. In rare cases, microorganisms can reach the bloodstream, causing bacteremia, requiring immediate medical attention. E. coli has also been implicated in rare cases of pneumonia.
Escherichia coli growth can be isolated in the laboratory using stool samples from infected patients. Other laboratory tests for detecting the presence of E. coli in stool are also available, including the enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the use of immunofluorescence microscopy. Bacterial infections are often treated with antibiotics, hydration, and electrolyte replacement.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
