Escherichia Coli - Types, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

What Is E.coli?

The bacterial genus Escherichia coli (E. coli) is vast and diverse. While the majority of E. coli strains aren't harmful, some of them can make the person sick. Some E. coli strains can cause diarrhea, while others can cause pneumonia, respiratory infections, and other illnesses. Other strains of E. coli are used as indicators of contaminated water, so you may hear about them being discovered in drinking water even though they are not harmful in and of themselves. It can be perplexing even for microbiologists.

How Does One Become Infected With E.coli?

Ingestion of contaminated food or water is the primary cause of most intestinal infections. Even though you already have some E. coli in your digestive system, consuming it from sources outside of the body can result in a serious intestinal infection. E. coli is known to spread to humans through undercooked meat, but the bacteria can also be found in the following factors.

• Unwashed fruits and vegetables.

• Untreated community water supply.

• Contaminated soil.

What Are the Different Species of E.coli?

E. coli has several subtypes. Six subtypes can cause intestinal illness, these consist of:

• Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC): This type typically develops in communities without adequate water sanitation and food safety measures. It is the subtype most frequently in charge of traveler's diarrhea and infants' dehydrating diarrhea in places with scarce sanitation resources.

• Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC): These contain E. coli strain that infects people the most frequently. EHEC outbreaks in the past have been brought on by people consuming contaminated beef, fruit, and vegetables. This subtype is most commonly found in ground beef. This strain is also known as verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

• Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC): Doctors first recognized this as the root of watery diarrhea. Additionally, it can spread from person to person. EPEC is more frequently contracted through the consumption of contaminated vegetable produce.

• Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC): Researchers have recently recognized EAEC as an increasingly prevalent cause of traveler's diarrhea in areas with and without abundant sanitation resources.

• Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC): This type is less prevalent than the others and may result from underdiagnosis, according to recent research. Shigella, a different bacterium that causes gastrointestinal distress, is closely related to it.

• Diffusely adherent Escherichia coli (DAEC): This subtype of E. coli differs from other types because it evenly coats cell surfaces. Medical researchers have characterized it less thoroughly than the other E. coli subtypes, although it can cause diarrhea in humans, particularly in young children.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of E.coli Infection?

After consuming food or drinks containing E. coli bacteria, a person typically experiences symptoms of an infection three to five days later. However, symptoms could appear as soon as a day after exposure and last up to ten days. The symptoms can persist for five to seven days.

The following symptoms may appear in people who contract the STEC strain of E. coli:

• Cramps and pain in the stomach.

• Diarrhea that could be bloody to watery.

• Fatigue.

• Nausea or a loss of appetite.

• Vomiting.

• Low fever lower than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.5 degrees Celsius.

What Is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a condition that some people who contract a STEC infection experience, especially young children under five. In this condition, STEC toxins in the intestines cause diarrhea, enter the bloodstream, damage the kidneys, and destroy red blood cells. About 5 to 10 percent of people with STEC infection develop this potentially fatal illness.

Early symptoms include:

• Diarrhea (usually bloody).

• Stomach pain.

• Fever.

• Vomiting.

As the disease progresses, symptoms include:

• Reduced urination and blood in the urine.

• Fatigue.

• Pale-looking skin.

• Easy bruising.

• Rapid heart rate.

• Lightheadedness.

• Sleepiness, confusion, seizures.

• Kidney failure.

Get emergency care if diarrhea becomes severe (lasts longer than three days or you can not stay hydrated), is bloody, or both. If HUS manifests, it typically does so seven days after the onset of your initial symptoms. Then, IV (intravenous) fluids, blood transfusions, and dialysis are used to treat it (for a short period).

How Is an E.coli Infection Diagnosed?

The stool sample is sent to a lab for testing, which helps the doctor to confirm the diagnosis of an E. coli infection. The majority of laboratories revert the results in two to four days.

How Is E.coli Treated?

Symptoms of intestinal E. coli infections can typically be managed at home. Most of the time, symptoms go away in a few days to a week. Among the self-care advice are:

1.Drinking plenty of water.

2.Getting plenty of sleep and rest.

3.Keep a check for more severe symptoms that require medical help.

• A doctor must be consulted before taking over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal medications in case of fever or bloody diarrhea. Also, a pediatrician must be consulted before administering medication to babies or young children.

• Doctors do not typically prescribe antibiotics to treat E. coli infections. This is due to the possibility of serious adverse effects and the development of antibiotic resistance, which renders antibiotics ineffective against particular pathogens.

• The doctor might advise hospitalization and intravenous (IV) fluids if dehydration is a concern. Symptoms often subside five to seven days after they first appear. They frequently recover completely.

How to Prevent E.coli Infections?

Washing hands often is the most crucial thing that can be done to prevent an E. coli infection. Hands must be thoroughly washed before and after handling raw meat or poultry, before and after cooking, after using the restroom, changing a baby's diaper, or coming into contact with animals.

Hands must be thoroughly washed with soap and get under the fingernails where bacteria can hide. Paper towels can be used to dry hands rather than cloth to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Adopting safe food practices can lessen the risk of getting an E. coli-related intestinal infection. These consist of the following:

• Washing fruits and vegetables properly.

• Avoiding cross-contamination and using clean pans, serving platters, and utensils.

• Avoid defrosting meat on the counter.

• Refrigerating leftovers immediately.

• Pasteurized milk products must be consumed.

• In case of diarrhea, the person must refrain from cooking food.

Meat must be cooked to a safe temperature. To ensure that all bacteria are eliminated, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers instructions for cooking meat and poultry at the correct temperatures. Meat thermometers can be used to determine whether meat has been cooked to the following temperatures:

• Poultry: 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).

• Ground meat and eggs: 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius).

• Steaks, pork chops, roasts, fish, and shellfish: 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).

The risk of contracting E. coli infection can be significantly reduced by maintaining good hygiene and following food safety regulations.

Conclusion

Ingestion of contaminated food or water is the primary cause of most intestinal infections. Though E. coli is present in our digestive system, contracting it from other sources outside the body can result in a serious intestinal infection. The risk of contracting E. coli infection can be significantly reduced by maintaining good hygiene and following food safety regulations.