Escherichia coli(E. coli) is a type of bacterium that normally lives in the intestines of people and animals. However, some types ofE. coli, particularlyE. coliO157:H7, can cause intestinal infection.

E. coliO157:H7 and other strains that cause intestinal sickness are called Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC) after the toxin that they produce.

Many people with anE. coliinfection make a full recovery. But it can lead to severe, potentially life threatening complications. People with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, young children, and older adults are at increased risk of developing these complications.

We explain how to spotE. colisymptoms, the most common ways you can getE. coli, and how to treat and prevent infection.

Most intestinal infections occur due to the ingestion of contaminated food or water. Even though forms ofE. colialready live in yourintestinal tract, ingestingE. colifrom sources outside of your body can cause a severe intestinal infection.

未煮熟的肉类以传输E. colito humans, but the bacteria can also be present in:

  • contaminated soil
  • untreated water in the community supply
  • unwashed fruits andvegetables

Sanitary food prep and good hygiene can greatly decrease your chances of developing an intestinal infection.

There are several subtypes ofE. coli. Many are harmless to humans, but six subtypes can cause intestinal illness. These include :

  • EnterotoxigenicEscherichia coli(ETEC).This type usually develops in communities that don’t have adequate water and food sanitation measures. In areas that have limited sanitation resources, it’s the subtype most commonly responsible for traveler’s diarrhea and dehydrating diarrhea in infants.
  • EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli(EHEC).This type includes the most common type ofE.colithat causes disease in humans, E. coli O157 .Previous outbreaks of EHEC have occurred from people eating contaminated fruit and vegetable produce as well as undercooked beef. Most commonly, this subtype is most abundant in ground beef.
  • EnteropathogenicEscherichia coli(EPEC).This type was the first that doctors identified as a cause of watery diarrhea. It can also transmit from person to person. More commonly, people acquire EPEC by consuming unsanitary vegetable produce.
  • EnteroaggregativeEscherichia coli(EAEC).Researchers have recently identified EAEC as an increasingly common cause of traveler’s diarrhea in regions that have an abundance of sanitation resources as well as those that do not.
  • EnteroinvasiveEscherichia coli(EIEC).This is a less common type than the others, although recent research suggests this might be due to underdiagnosis. It has close links toShigella, different bacteria that cause gastrointestinal distress.
  • Diffusely adherentEscherichia coli(DAEC).This subtype ofE. coliuniformly covers the surface of cells, which distinguishes it from other types. While it can cause diarrhea in humans, particularly young children, medical researchers have characterized it less thoroughly than the otherE. colisubtypes.

People most commonly acquireE. coliO157 by ingesting contaminated food or water. It can also transmit from animals to people and person to person.

If you work in a location that involves close and regular contact between people, like a day care center, you might have a higher risk of person-to-personE. colitransmission.

Symptoms of intestinal infection generally begin 3 to 4 days after you’ve acquiredE. coli. This is known as the incubation period. Once symptoms appear, they usually resolve within 5 to 7 days, but they can last anywhere from 1 to 10 days.

Mild to moderate symptoms

Symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to more than a week. They may include:

Severe symptoms

Symptoms of a severeE. coliinfection may include:

Call your doctor if you experience any of these severe symptoms, or symptoms continue for longer than expected.

Complications

Without treatment,E. coliinfection may progress to one of the following conditions, among others:

Hemolytic uremic syndrome due to E. coli

根据中心Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 5 to 10 percent of people with anE. coliinfection develophemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that damages red blood cells.

This can lead tokidney failure, which may be life threatening, especially for children and older adults. HUS generally begins about 5 to 10 days after the onset of diarrhea.

People and animals normally have someE. coliin their intestines, but certain strains from outside the body can cause infection.

Unsanitary food handling

Whetherfood prepis taking place at home, in a restaurant, or in a grocery store, unsafe handling and preparation can cause contamination.

Common causes of food poisoning include:

Food processing

在屠宰过程中,家禽和肉类products can acquire bacteria from the animals’ intestines.

Contaminated water

Poor sanitation can lead to the presence of bacteria from human or animal waste in water. You may ingestE. colifrom drinkingcontaminated wateror by swimming in it.

Person to person

E. colican transmit to others when a person carrying the bacteria doesn’t wash their hands after having abowel movement.

The bacteria transmit to a new host when that person touches someone or something else, like food. Nursing homes, schools, and child care facilities are particularly vulnerable to person-to-personE. colitransmission.

Animals

People who work with animals, especially cows, goats, and sheep, have an increased risk ofE. coliinfection. Anyone who touches animals or who works in an environment with animals should wash their hands regularly and thoroughly.

While anyone can experience anE. coliinfection, some people are more at risk than others. Some risk factors include:

  • Age.Older adults and young children are more likely to experience serious complications fromE. coli.
  • A weakened immune system.People withweakened immune systemsare more susceptible toE. coliinfections.
  • Season.E. coliinfections are more likely to occur during the summer months, June to September, for unknown reasons.
  • Low stomach acid levels.Medications that help decrease your stomach acid levels can increase your risk ofE. coliinfection.
  • Certain foods.Drinking unpasteurized milk orjuicesand eating undercooked meat can increase your risk ofE. coli.

Without treatment, intestinal infection can lead to dehydration and severe, sometimes fatal complications.

See a doctor if:

  • You havediarrheathat isn’t getting better after 4 days, or 2 days for an infant or child.
  • You have afeverwith diarrhea.
  • Abdominal paindoesn’t get better after a bowel movement.
  • There is pus orblood in your stool.
  • Vomitinghas continued for more than 12 hours.
  • You have symptoms of intestinal infection and have recently traveled to a foreign country.
  • You have symptoms of dehydration, such as a lack of urine,extreme thirst, or dizziness.
  • You have trouble keeping liquids down.

For a baby under 3 months old, contact your pediatrician as soon as symptoms begin. A doctor can confirm anE. coliinfection with a simple stool sample.

Most people with intestinalE. coliinfections can treat their symptoms at home. Symptoms generally resolve within a few days to a week. Self-care tips include:

  • drinkingplenty of water
  • getting lots of rest
  • keeping an eye out for more severe symptoms that require medical help

If you have bloody diarrhea or fever, check with your doctor before takingover-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal medications. Always check with your pediatrician before giving medications to infants or children.

Doctors don’t usually prescribe antibiotic medications to treat anE. coliinfection. This is because of their risk of severe side effects and the buildup of antibiotic resistance, where antibiotics stop being effective against certain pathogens.

If dehydration is a concern, your doctor may order hospitalization andintravenous (IV) fluids.

Most people show improved symptoms within 5 to 7 days of symptom onset. They often make a full recovery.

Practicing safe food behaviors can decrease your chances of developing an intestinal infection due toE. coli. These include:

  • washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly
  • avoiding cross-contamination by using clean utensils, pans, and serving platters
  • keepingraw meatsaway from other foods and away from other clean items
  • notdefrosting meaton the counter and, instead, doing so in the refrigerator or microwave
  • refrigeratingleftoversimmediately
  • drinking only pasteurized milk products
  • not preparing food if you have diarrhea

Safely cooking meat to prevent E. coli

Also make sure you cook all meat toa safe temperature. TheU.S. Department of Agricultureprovides guidelines for cooking meat and poultry to proper temperatures to make sure all bacteria are killed.

You can use a meat thermometer to check that meat is cooked to these temperatures:

  • Poultry:165˚F (74˚C)
  • Ground meat, eggs:160˚F (71˚C)
  • Steaks, pork chops, roasts, fish, shellfish:145˚F (63˚C)

Handwashing to prevent E. coli

One of the easiest things you can do to prevent anE. coliinfection is regular handwashing. Wash your hands:

  • before handling, serving, or eating food
  • after touching animals or working in animal environments
  • after using the bathroom

Practicing good hygiene and following food safety guidelines can go a long way toward decreasing your risk ofE. coliinfection.