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Foodborne E coli infection

Last reviewed: 21 Oct 2024
Last updated: 08 Feb 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • diarrhea
  • history of travel, contact with contaminated food, or contact with infected person
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • abdominal pain or discomfort
  • volume depletion
  • fever
  • nausea/vomiting
  • anorexia
  • lethargy
Full details

Risk factors

  • ingestion of contaminated food products or water
  • travel
  • poor hygiene practices
  • infantile or advanced age (<5 years and >60 years)
  • contact history
  • immunocompromised state
  • contact with infected animals
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • stool cultures
  • CBC
  • renal function and electrolytes
Full details

Tests to consider

  • identification of Shiga toxin-producing E coli infection
  • blood cultures
  • inflammatory markers (CRP and/or erythrocyte sedimentation rate)
  • abdominal x-ray
  • endoscopy
  • abdominal CT scan
Full details

Treatment algorithm

INITIAL

all patients

ACUTE

confirmed enterotoxigenic positive

confirmed enterohemorrhagic positive

other Escherichia coli serotypes

Contributors

Authors

Eli D. Ehrenpreis, MD, FACG, AGAF

Associate Director for Research

Internal Medicine Residency

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Park Ridge

IL

Disclosures

EDE is a CEO for E2Bio Life Sciences LLC and G.I. Pharmaceuticals Inc. E2Bio Life Sciences LLC has developed Bocaliner, an FDA-registered class 1 medical device designed to enhance the efficacy of topical medications applied to the oral cavity. G.I. Pharmaceuticals Inc. has medical treatments for oral leukoplakia designed to prevent oral cancer, and a new medication for anal pruritis.

Acknowledgements

Dr Eli D. Ehrenpreis would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr Thomas Adam Wichelmann, who contributed to this update. Dr Ehrenpreis would also like to acknowledge Dr Alexandra Kent and Professor Satis Keshav, the previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

TAW, AK, and SK declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Andrew Poullis, BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCP

Consultant Gastroenterologist

St George’s Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

AP declares that he has no competing interests.

Fiona Cooke, MA, PhD, MSc, FRCPath, MRCP, DTM&H

Research Fellow and Medical Microbiologist

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Department of Microbiology

Addenbrooke's Hospital

Cambridge

UK

Disclosures

FC declares that she has no competing interests.

Houssam E. Mardini, MD, MPH, FACP

Voluntary Assistant Professor of Medicine

Digestive Health & Nutrition Center of Ashland

Ashland

KY

Disclosures

HEM declares that he has no competing interests.

  • Differentials

    • Viral gastroenteritis
    • Alternative foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis/traveler's diarrhea
    • Amebiasis
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Infectious diarrhea - guideline for investigation
    • E. coli (Escherichia coli) infection
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Diarrhea in adults

    Diarrhea in children

    More Patient information
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