Escherichia coli – E. coli infection. Treatment and prevention

Escherichia colibetter known as E. E. coli coli , is a common and diverse group of bacteria found in food, the environment and the gut of both humans and some warm-blooded animals. Though E. E. coli coli has a bad reputation, the truth is most strains E. E. coli coli it is actually harmless.

Escherichia coli — what kind of bacteria is it?

Escherichia coli ( E. E. coli coli ) is a bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains E. E. coli coli it is harmless. However, some strains, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), can cause serious food-borne diseases. Escherichia coli It is mainly transmitted to humans by eating contaminated food, such as raw or undercooked meat products, raw milk, and contaminated raw vegetables and sprouts.

STEC produces toxins, known as Shiga toxins because of their similarity to the toxins produced by Shigella dysentery. STEC can grow at temperatures ranging from 7 ° C to 50 ° C and the optimal temperature is 37 ° C. Some STECs can grow in acidic foods, up to a pH of 4,4, and in foods with minimal water activity (a _W ) of 0,95.

STEC is destroyed by thoroughly cooking the food until all parts are at a temperature of 70 ° C or higher. E. E. coli coli O157: H7 is the most important STEC serotype with regard to public health; however, other serotypes have often been involved in sporadic cases and epidemics.

Most of what we know about STEC comes from infection research E. E. coli coli O157, which was first identified as a pathogen in 1982. Less is known about non-O157 STECs, partly because older laboratory practices did not identify infections other than O157. In general, serogroups other than O157 are less susceptible to serious disease than E. E. coli coli O157, although they can sometimes. For example E. E. coli coli O26 produces the same type of toxin as E. E. coli coli O157 and causes a similar disease, although it is usually less likely to lead to kidney problems (called haemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS).

See: Kidney pain – causes, diagnosis, treatment. What diseases cause kidney pain?

Escherichia coli – routes of infection

Although Escherichia coli O157 is the most studied – and often one of the most serious – pathogens E. E. coli coli other pathogens can also cause the disease. In fact, there are six pathogenic strains Escherichii coliwhich are associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

Both forms are harmless Escherichii coliand pathogenic, they colonize the intestines of certain animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, deer and elk. When an animal is slaughtered, Escherichia coli can contaminate meat. Before slaughter E. E. coli coli it can pass through the animal’s body and spread in its faeces.

Bacteria Escherichii coli not only do they survive in the refrigerator and freezer, but they can multiply at fairly low temperatures. These bacteria can be killed if the meat is properly and carefully prepared.

Food poisoning caused by E. E. coli coli can occur when a person eats:

1. contaminated or undercooked ground beef,
2. contaminated products or grains E. coli,
3. unpasteurized dairy products and juices (as pasteurization kills bacteria)
4. cross-contaminated food,
5. contaminated food through inadequate hand hygiene

Escherichia coli is also infected as a result of:

1. ingestion of contaminated recreational water E. E. coli coli (recreational water includes lakes, streams, rivers, springs, ponds, swimming pools, hot tubs, jacuzzis, aquapark fountains),
2. contact with farm animals or pets,
3. touching contaminated surfaces or objects, and then touching them with the mouth or putting the contaminated object into the mouth,
4. poor hand hygiene after using the bathroom or changing diapers, and then eating food.

See also: Ranking of the most dangerous zoonotic viruses. Can they trigger another pandemic?

Escherichia coli – symptoms of STEC infection

The symptoms of a STEC infection vary from person to person. However, the most common symptoms of STEC-induced disease include abdominal cramps and diarrheawhich can, in some cases, progress to bloody diarrhea (haemorrhagic colitis). You may also experience high fever (over 38 degrees Celsius) and vomiting.

The incubation period may vary from 3 to 8 days. Most people recover within 10 days, but in a small percentage of those affected (especially young children and the elderly), the infection can lead to a life-threatening disease such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is characterized by acute renal failure, haemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts).

It is estimated that up to 10% of patients with STEC infection may develop HUS, with a case mortality of 3 to 5%. HUS is the most common cause of acute kidney failure in young children. It can cause neurological complications (such as seizures, stroke, and coma) in 25% of patients with HUS, and chronic renal sequelae, usually mild, in approximately 50% of survivors.

People who experience bloody diarrhea or severe abdominal cramps should seek medical attention. Antibiotics are not part of treating patients with STEC disease and may possibly increase the risk of HUS later.

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Escherichia coli – hemolytic uremic syndrome

Haemolytic uremic syndrome is defined as a sudden onset of acute haemolytic anemia with fragmented red blood cells, low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), and acute kidney injury. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a general term encompassing the five major subtypes of STEC (typical), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, associated streptococcal pneumonia, HUS, and the metabolic causes of HUS.

Symptoms of STEC HUS are usually preceded by an infection of the gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis) characterized by abdominal cramps and pain, fever and diarrhea. The diarrhea eventually becomes bloody within a few days. In many cases, there is also nausea and vomiting. About 3 to 10 days after onset of gastroenteritis, additional symptoms develop, including a sudden onset of pallor (pallor), irritability, weakness, decreased urine output (oliguria) or lack of urine (anuria), and a lack of energy (lethargy). In some cases, seizures also occur in this early stage.

Some babies may develop small, unexplained bruises, small pinhead-sized red or purple spots on the skin or mucous membranes (ecchymosis) and, rarely, nose or mouth bleeding.

Almost all affected people suffer from kidney damage, and more than half of children with STEC HUS develop impaired kidney (kidney) function which can lead to kidney failure and require dialysis. STEC HUS is the most common cause of acute renal failure in young children, which is not associated with complications of surgical treatment.

Also read: Kidney pain – causes, diagnosis, treatment. What diseases cause kidney pain?

Escherichia coli – urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs for short, are the most common type of bacterial infection currently diagnosed. The most common bacteria that causes these infections is Escherichia coli. In fact E. E. coli coli it is responsible for over 85 percent of all urinary tract infections.

Symptoms of urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli can include:

1. a sudden need to urinate
2. pollakiuria,
3. loss of urine control (urinary incontinence)
4. pain when urinating,
5. problems urinating,
6. pain over the pubic bone,
7. blood in urine
8. unpleasant-smelling urine,
9. nausea and vomiting
10. fever,
11. chills,
12. pain in the back or side below the ribs
13. tiredness.

Escherichia coli – treatment

Antibiotics can be an effective treatment for infections caused Escherichia colithat are outside the digestive system, such as urinary tract infections.

Currently, there is no specific drug treatment recommended for STEC infections. Antibiotics should not be used to treat Escherichi coli STEC infections: taking antibiotics may actually increase your risk of developing a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) by increasing the production of bacteria.

People suffering from STEC infection are also advised to avoid anti-diarrheal medications that slow down the digestive system, preventing the body from shedding toxins.

Instead, supportive therapies such as hydration and rest are recommended. Here are some things you can do at home to help support your recovery:

1. drink plenty of fluids; small sips help to avoid vomiting,
2. avoid juices, caffeine and alcohol,
3. avoid spicy foods, dairy, fatty, and high-fiber foods that can worsen symptoms.

If your symptoms are more severe, you may need emergency and hospital assistance to get extra fluids through your drip.

Escherichia coli (bacteria e. coli) to profilaktyka

To avoid all these dangerous consequences, you should observe good hygiene when preparing and consuming food. Cooked and raw products must be stored separately in the kitchen. Vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed with lukewarm running water, also after peeling them. You should wash your hands before each meal and after leaving the toilet. Water of unknown origin can only be drunk when it is boiled, do not eat undercooked and undercooked meat.

Prophylactically, it is worth drinking Ecological Cranberry Juice, which prevents diseases coming from E. coli.

Here are how you can prevent infection with Escherichia coli in a few simple steps:

1. wash your hands with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds each time after using the bathroom, after changing diapers, after contact with animals or their surroundings, before eating,
2. supervise young children to make sure they wash their hands properly.
3. wash your hands more often when someone in your home is sick,
4. prepare the meat correctly, try to make it always fried, boiled, baked,
5. Prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen by washing your hands, cutting boards, countertops, knives, utensils and surfaces with warm soapy water after handling raw food
6. separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from vegetables and cooked food.
7. wash and / or peel fruits and vegetables before eating them,
8. do not drink unpasteurized milk, juice,
9. do not drink untreated water from lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, or shallow wells

Swimming Tips:

1. do not swallow water or put water in your mouth while swimming,
2. take a shower before and after bathing,
3. do not swim when you have diarrhea, 
4. take your children to frequent bathroom breaks when swimming – waiting for “I have to go” may mean that it is too late,
5. change diapers in the changing rooms, not by the pool or beach. Wash your hands after changing diapers.