Foodborne E. coli infection - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Foodborne Escherichia coli infection typically occurs through the ingestion of food or water contaminated with pathogenic strains of E coli.
Enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC) is the most common cause of traveler's diarrhea.
Diagnosis is made based on stool culture, with serotyping for greater specificity.
Treatment is supportive, with rehydration and correction of electrolyte imbalance.
Use of antibiotics is controversial and in most cases not necessary, except possibly in traveler's diarrhea.

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History & Exam
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Diagnostics Tests
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Treatment Options
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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Citations

Key Articles

Nataro JP, Kaper JB. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998 Jan;11(1):142-201.[Abstract][Full Text]
Kaper JB, Nataro JP, Mobley HL. Pathogenic Escherichia coli. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2004 Feb;2(2):123-40.[Abstract][Full Text]
American Medical Association; American Nurses Association-American Nurses Foundation; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration; Food Safety and Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture. Diagnosis and management of foodborne illnesses: a primer for physicians and other health care professionals. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2004 Apr 16;53(RR-4):1-33.[Abstract][Full Text]
Shane AL, Mody RK, Crump JA, et al. 2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of infectious diarrhea. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 29;65(12):e45-80.[Abstract][Full Text]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel. Section 2: preparing international travelers - travelers' diarrhea. May 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]

Other Online Resources

CDC: E. coli (Escherichia coli) - resources for clinicians and laboratories
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: foodborne illness
World Health Organization: E. coli
World Health Organization: food safety

Referenced Articles

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