All About Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)

Escherichia coli, a tiny bacterium also known as E. coli is commonly found in the gut of warm blooded animals, like cattle, like sheep & pigs and ohh like human beings.

Several types of E. coli exist as part of the normal flora of the human gut and have many beneficial functions, such as the production of vitamin K2. They also prevent harmful bacteria, known as pathogenic bacteria, from establishing themselves in the intestine.

Most E. coli strains pose no harm to human health, except for serotype O157:H7, which can cause food poisoning in humans and can become life-threatening.

Other less common serotypes, such as O104:H4, O121, O26, O103, O111, O145,and O104:H21 can also cause serious infection.

German pediatrician and bacteriologist, Theodor Escherich discovered the bacterium in 1885, hence its name. E. coli is now classified as part of the Enterobacteriaceae family of gamma-proteobacteria.

A healthy young adult will usually make a full recovery from E. coli O157:H7 infection within 5 to 7 days.

However, young children, elderly individuals and patients with weakened immune systems can develop potentially fatal HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome), a type of kidney failure.

Signs and symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection, the patient will typically experience symptoms within three to four days after being exposed to the bacteria, however, in some cases they may appear within a day or a week later.

The patient may show any of the following:

• Abdominal pain - typically, the first symptom is severe abdominal cramping that comes on suddenly.
• Diarrhoea - a few hours after the sudden abdominal pain, the patient typically has watery diarrhoea. A day later there may be bright red bloody stools, caused by sores in the intestines.
• Nausea
• Vomiting - note that many patients who become ill may not vomit
• Fever - note that many infected people may not have a fever
• Fatigue - diarrhea causes loss of fluids and electrolytes (dehydration), making the patient feel sick and tired

 A considerable number of infected people have no noticeable symptoms. However, they are capable of unwittingly spreading the infection to others. coli, usually called E. coli, refers to a large group of bacteria that is commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.

E. coli infections are generally caused by eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or coming into direct contact with someone who is sick or with animals that carry the bacteria.

Infections can be caused by:

• Improperly cooked beef;
• Raw fruits and uncooked vegetables, including sprouts;
• Untreated drinking water;
• Unpasteurized (raw) milk and (raw) milk products, including raw milk cheese;
• Unpasteurized apple juice/cider; and
• Direct contact with animals at petting zoos or farms.

Food can become contaminated with E. coli when animals are slaughtered or processed, even if precautions are taken. In processed or ground meat, the bacteria can be spread throughout the meat. Food can also be contaminated when it is handled by a person infected with E. coli, or from cross-contamination because of unsanitary food handling practices.

Proper hygiene and safe food handling and preparation practices are key to preventing the spread of E. coli.

Symptoms of E. coli infection usually start within about 3 to 4 days after exposure, but the incubation period can be as short as 1 day or as long as 10 days.

If you think you are infected with E. coli bacteria or any other foodborne illness, do not prepare food for other people. It's also a good idea to keep pets away from food storage and preparation areas.

E coli gut infections require fluid replacement (like bags of IV fluids) with solutions containing appropriate electrolytes. Antimicrobials known to be useful in cases of traveler's diarrhea include

• Doxycycline,
• Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ),
• Fluoroquinolones,
• Rifaximin

They shorten the duration of diarrhea by 24-36 h.

Antibiotics are not useful in enterohemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) infection and may predispose to development of HUS.

Antimotility agents (like Loperamide, Eldoper, Immodium) are contraindicated in children and in persons with enteroinvasive E coli (EIEC) infection.