Escherichia coli or E coli is a type of bacterium, a tiny singled celled organism that can live in many different environments.
E. coli normally lives inside the intestines, where it helps to body break down and digest the food. Unfortunately, certain types (called strains) of E. coli can get from the intestines into the blood.
E. coli is a Gram-negative enteric bacillus that is a common cause of urinary tract infections in normal people, in hospitalized patients with urethral catheters, and in men who have urethral obstruction due to prostate hypertrophy.
Most E. coli infections come from:
*Eating undercooked ground beef (the inside is pink).
*Drinking contaminated (impure) water
*Drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk
*Working with cattle
Outbreaks of E. coli have been associated with undercooked hamburger, raw cookie dough, unpasteurized milk, and produce such as inions, melons and spinach.
Waterborne transmission can occur from contaminated drinking water and recreational waters.
Although most strains of E. coli are harmless and exist as part of the normal gastrointestinal flora, infection usually results from certain non-indigenous strains.
Escherichia coli causes genitourinary tract infections and sepsis, It is often a cause of wound infections or cellulitis in the perianal area or other sites where fecal contamination has occurred.
People who are infected with E. coli are very contagious. Children shouldn't go to a day care center until they have 2 negative stool cultures (proof that the infection is gone). Older people in nursing homes should stay in bed until 2 stool cultures are negative.
E. coli infection
