Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli on agar

Other names

Also called E. coli

Description

Escherichia coli is a species of bacterium normally present in intestinal tract of humans and other animals.

Pathogenesis

• E. coli are a large and diverse group of bacteria.
• Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick.
• Some kinds of E. coli can cause diarrhea, while others cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses.
• E.coli are sometimes pathogenic.

Food poisoning

• E.coli can be a threat to food safety.
• Some strains of verocytoxin producing e-coli (VTEC) belonging to serotype Escherichia coli O157 which can cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), two potentially life-threatening conditions

Escherichia coli, Endo agar

Scanning electron micrograph of Escherichia coli

Symptoms

• Symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection vary for each person, but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting.
• Some people may have a fever, which usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/38.5˚C).
• Most people get better within 5 to 7 days.
• Some infections are very mild, but others are severe or even life-threatening.
• Most people with a STEC infection start feeling sick 3 to 4 days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria.
• However, illnesses can start anywhere from 1 to 10 days after exposure.

Normal flora

E-coli are part of the normal flora of the gut of warm blooded organisms.

Survival outside the body

E-coli can survive outside the body and are used as an indicator organism in environmental samples for fecal contamination.

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