MicroBiology

Escherichia coli is abbreviated, as E. coli is a diverse and a large group of bacteria. It is generally found in the lower intestine of the warm-blooded animals. The E. coli strains are harmless normally, but there are some strains like the serotype O157 are responsible in causing food poisoning in human beings. The harmless strains are beneficial to their hosts as they produce vitamin K2 and also prevents the development of pathogenic bacteria inside the intestine of the organisms.

The E. coli bacteria is one of the leading causes of bloody diarrhea and severe cramps in the body. Symptoms of E. coli infections are worst in children and elderly people, and particularly in those people who are already suffering form some other illness. The E. coli infections are prevalent normally during the months of summer and the northern states.

Causes of E. coli infections- One can easily catch these E. coli infections. The E. coli infections generally come from drinking contaminated or impure water, unpasteurized or raw milk, working with cattle’s and consuming undercooked ground beef. The dairy cattle’s and healthy beef carry this E. coli bacterium in their intestines. The meat can get contaminated with the E. coli bacterium at the time of slaughtering process. The E. coli bacterium gets mixed in the entire meat when the beef is ground up. Thus, we can say that one of the common ways of getting this infection is by consuming contaminated food.

Symptoms of E. coli infection are visible after about seven days when you get infected with the germ. Its symptoms includes watery diarrhea and severe abdominal cramps. The body loses fluids and electrolytes in a large amount due to diarrhea. This diarrhea later on changes to red, bright bloody stools. You may also experience mild fever or no fever at all and vomiting. There are some complications that arise due to this infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome is the most common complication. People with this problem suffer from renal failure- kidney damage, thrombocytopenia- low platelet count and hemolytic anemia- low red blood cell count.

Diagnosis of E. coli infections is done by finding the E. coli in a stool sample of the concerned person. It is recommended to see a doctor soon, if you have bloody diarrhea. There is no special treatment available as such, for the treatment of the E. coli infections. You just need to drink adequate water and observe the complications. Medicine to stop the diarrhea should not be taken, as it will keep the intestines away form getting rid of the E. coli bacterium. In case of serious dehydration, fluids are put in the veins through IVs. Generally, the E. coli infections get better in a period of five to ten days.

The E. coli infections are caused by consuming the foods containing bacteria. Hence, to prevent the arousal of these infections, it is suggested to handle the food safely. Wash the fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them, cook the meat well and avoid raw juices and milk,

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