Summary
- Most cases of Escherichia coli infection are foodborne.
- Enterotoxigenic E coli (ETEC) is the most common cause of traveller's diarrhoea.
- 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 traveller's diarrhoea.
- Ten percent of patients with E coli O157 infection develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome.
Other related conditions
- Amoebiasis
- Assessment of acute diarrhoea
- Clostridium difficile-associated disease
- Coeliac disease
- Colorectal cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Diverticular disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Salmonellosis
- Sepsis
- Shigella infection
- Stomach cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Traveller's diarrhoea
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Food poisoning
Last updated: Apr 05, 2013
