Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is a gram positive, facultative anaerobe that occupies a symbiotic relationship with the large intestine of several animals including that of humans. This mutually beneficial arrangement provides adequate nutrition and safe haven for the encapsulated bacteria while providing the host with vitamin K and B-complexes (Tierney et al., 1998). E. coli is rapidly introduced into the sterile newborn through food, water and as a direct result of the birthing process. The host's colon is rapidly colonized by these and other bacteria that compete among themselves for position and acquisition of resources.

E. coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections and gram-negative rod sepsis (Levinson and Jawetz, 1996). It has been readily associated with neonatal meningitis, and diseases like the ever-dreaded Montezuma's Revenge (Traveler's diarrhea). Once established within its environment, this rod shaped unicellular organism is able to respond to environmental pressures such as chemical, pH, osmosis and temperature changes, by moving to regions of the large intestine where more suitable conditions exist (Baron et al., 1994)

Morbidity caused by this organism is a direct result of the virulence factors present, which provide a means for categorizing E.coli into different groups. These differences in the way they cause disease not only help in identification, but aid researchers in targeting mechanisms capable of preventing the usually ben

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Epidemiology Morbidity due to ETEC is mainly transmitted through the oral-fecal route and has been found to be present in contaminated water supplies and food found in restaurants and street vendors. Very young children and unwary travelers are especially susceptible to infection due to low resistance of this particular strain of bacteria. Travelers have been shown to have anywhere from a 30 - 50% chance of infection after being in a foreign country for over 2 weeks unless strict avoidance of contaminated water and uncooked foods is undertaken (Gill et al., 1996). EHEC is typically encountered in uncooked meats and as stated above, has gotten much media coverage due to its association with fast food eateries. Though the occurrence of infection is rather low when compared to that of ETEC, the associated hemolytic-uremic syndrome with subsequent kidney failure makes EHEC a medical priority. Clinical Manifestations Levinson and Jawetz (1998) explain that urinary tract infections caused by E. coli are 14 times more common in females than in males due to the anatomical differences in urethral length and orientation. The uropathogenic bacteria invade the urinary system from the perineal area and make their way up to the

Category: Medical - E