Escherichia coli: types, symptoms, treatment, prevention

The non-pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli, Escherichia coli) is a normal component of the human intestinal bacterial flora. But when they enter other organs and systems of the body from the gastrointestinal tract, they can cause diseases. In addition, there are pathogenic forms that, when entering the body, lead to serious illness.

Gut microflora and E. coli

After a baby is born, E. coli appears in the baby's intestines within 40 hours. It comes with food and, having colonized the large intestine, remains there throughout life in an amount of 106-108 CFU/g of microflora content.

Routes of infection

1. E. coli can enter the body by eating poorly processed raw meat, sausage and raw milk.
2. Escherichia coli can also be found on raw vegetables, especially if they are grown on land fertilized with manure.
3. You can easily become infected through contaminated water.
4. The presence of E. coli in water, even in small quantities, indicates fecal contamination.
5. If you do not wash your hands well after contact with infected animals, there is also a risk of infection.
6. The bacillus is also transmitted from person to person; lesions are especially numerous in public institutions, since an infected person releases a huge amount of bacteria. They can persist for some time on the surfaces of objects and end up in food.
7. Escherichia coli is sensitive to high temperatures and dies quickly even in the heat, but is resistant to freezing.

How can your own E. coli get into other organs?

If the rules of hygiene in the toilet are not followed, the stick can get into the urinary tract (causing cystitis); the risk of such infection is especially high in women. If this bacterium gets into the vagina it can cause colpitis, and if it gets into the prostate gland it can cause prostatitis.

From the gastrointestinal tract, it can enter the abdominal cavity, which leads to peritonitis, and into the bile ducts - to cholangitis.

Hemorrhagic colitis

This disease is caused by pathological forms of Escherichia coli, in particular 0157.H7. They produce toxins that damage the blood vessels in the colon wall. Once in the intestines, they cause a disease that is similar in symptoms to dysentery.

When absorbed, they can damage other organs. And in 5% of cases they lead to complications such as

• acute liver failure,
• hemolytic anemia (the lifespan of red blood cells is shortened),
• thrombocytopenia (a decrease in platelet count below 150·109/l, which is accompanied by increased bleeding and problems stopping bleeding).

Infection occurs through consumption of contaminated meat and milk without sufficient heat treatment or through the fecal route.

Symptoms

Hemorrhagic colitis begins acutely with the following symptoms:

• severe cramping pain in the abdomen;
• water diarrhea,
• bloody diarrhea.

Fever is usually absent, but in some patients it can rise to 39° C.

In mild cases (without complications), the disease lasts 7-10 days.

Enterotoxic Escherichia coli

This type of bacteria causes digestive upset and is the cause of traveler's diarrhea.

This type of disease is accompanied

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• rumbling,
• transfusion,
• abdominal pain,
• diarrhea.

Diagnostics

There are no characteristic laboratory parameters for infections caused by Escherichia coli. Its exact identification is difficult. The disease is diagnosed based on symptoms.

For hemorrhagic colitis, additional information can be obtained by performing sigmoidoscopy and irrigoscopy.

During sigmoidoscopy , swelling and redness (hyperemia) of the intestinal mucosa is observed.

During irrigoscopy, signs of swelling of the mucous membrane are usually visible, creating a picture similar to a “thumbprint”.

When diagnosing, it is necessary to exclude diseases such as

• dysentery,
• ulcerative colitis,
• ischemic colitis.

Treatment

E. coli is sensitive to most antibiotics, but they must be used with caution.

• First, bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotic,
• secondly, antibiotics destroy beneficial intestinal microflora,
• thirdly, the death of microorganisms leads to a sharp increase in the enterohemolytic toxin in the intestinal lumen.

In this regard, the basis of treatment is

• bed rest,
• strict diet ( 4c ),
• symptomatic therapy.

In case of complications, intensive therapy is required, including hemodialysis and plasmapheresis.
The prognosis is usually favorable.

Prevention measures

To avoid contracting infections caused by Escherichia coli, you should follow certain rules.

1. Women should pay attention to toilet hygiene (the perineum should always be wiped from front to back).
2. Wash your hands after using the toilet, before preparing food, and before eating.
3. It is necessary to wash your hands after contact with animals.
4. Raw meat should be cooked at a minimum temperature of 70°C for at least 10 minutes.
5. Avoid raw milk. Consume only pasteurized milk.
6. To process raw meat, you must have a special cutting board.
7. Hands and other kitchen utensils after contact with raw meat should not come into contact with other foods or utensils.