Escherichia coli Infection

Excerpt

Escherichia coli, a gram-negative bacillus that normally inhabits the intestinal flora, is also widely present in the environment. With hundreds of identified strains, E coli produces a broad spectrum of disease, ranging from mild, self-limited gastroenteritis to severe complications, eg, renal failure and septic shock. Its virulence is marked by the ability to evade host defenses and develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics, making E coli a significant cause of both community-acquired and healthcare-associated infections.

Additionally, E coli infections can be divided into intestinal and extraintestinal categories. Intestinal illnesses are further subtyped into enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enterohemorrhagic/Shiga toxin-producing (EHEC/STEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), and enteroaggregative E coli (EAEC). Extraintestinal illnesses are discussed based on clinical disease manifestations, eg, urinary tract infections, bacteremia, pneumonia, and peritonitis. Understanding these distinctions is essential for accurate diagnosis, evidence-based management, and the prevention of complications associated with E coli infections.