• What is E. coli?
• Which kinds of E. coli can cause disease?
• In whom does EIEC cause disease?
• What does it take to be infected?
• What does EIEC do after entering the bowels?
• How long is the incubation period?
• What are the main features of EIEC disease?
• How is the laboratory diagnosis made?
• Is food associated with EIEC?
• How about food handlers?
• How is diarrhea due to EIEC treated?
• How can EIEC disease be prevented?
• E. coli (EIEC) At A Glance

What is E. coli?

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of people (and animals). It can also live elsewhere. Most strains of E coli are quite harmless. They are simply part of the normal intestinal flora. However, there are some kinds of E. coli that are capable of causing disease when within the colon.

Which kinds of E. coli can cause disease?

There are five unique classes of E. coli that can cause inflammation of the stomach and bowels (gastroenteritis) and are, therefore, termed enterovirulent. They are virulent (extremely noxious) for the intestine (or, in Greek, the enteron).

Collectively, these five classes of enterovirulent E. coli are referred to as the EEC group (enterovirulent E. coli). Each class of EEC is distinct and different from the others. They are the:

• Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) invades (passes into) the intestinal wall to produce severe diarrhea.
• Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): A type of EHEC, E.coli 0157:H7, can cause bloody diarrhea and the hemolytic uremic syndrome (anemia and kidney failure).
• Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) produces a toxin that acts on the intestinal lining, and is the most common cause of travelers diarrhea.
• Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) can causes diarrhea outbreaks in newborn nurseries.
• Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) can cause acute and chronic (long lasting) diarrhea in children.

From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Diarrhea - Explains diarrhea (loose stool or frequent bowel movements) and includes causes, dehydration prevention and treatment. Source:MedicineNet Food Poisoning - Read about the types of food poisoning from bacterium infection from Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria, and botulism. Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention information is included in the information. Source:WebMD Medical Reference from The Cleveland Clinic E. Coli 0157:H7 - Read about E. coli (E. Coli 0157:H7) a bacterial infection resulting from eating raw or undercooked meat or unpasteurized dairy products (raw milk or cheeses). Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. Source:MedicineNet Read 14 more Enteroinvasive E. Coli related articles ... So Much to Do, So Little Sleep Head Injuries All Too Common in Summer Play Health Tip: The Word on Wisdom Teeth Health Tip: Make Exercise a Daily Habit New Source of Heart Stem Cells Found Health Highlights: June 23, 2008 Poorer Patients Have Poorer Survival After Cancer Diagnosis One Gene May Be Key to Myeloma Crocodile Babies Cry Out for Hatching Immune Molecule Key to Preventing Organ Rejection