ESCHERICHIA COLI (E COLI 0157 H7)

Course overview

SHIGA TOXIN-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA COLI O157: H7, IS AN ENTEROHEMORRHAGIC BACTERIAL STRAIN THAT IS AN IMPORTANT FOOD AND A WATERBORNE PATHOGEN THAT CAUSES DIARRHEA, HEMORRHAGIC COLITIS, AND HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME (HUS) IN HUMANS. TRANSMISSION IS VIA THE FECAL-ORAL ROUTE AFTER CONSUMPTION OF CONTAMINATED, UNDERCOOKED LIQUIDS, FOODS, AND BY PERSON-TO-PERSON THROUGH FECAL SHEDDING. THE PRODUCTION OF SHIGA TOXINS IS A KEY FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RANGE OF GASTROINTESTINAL ILLNESSES, FROM WATERY DIARRHEA TO HEMORRHAGIC COLITIS AND HUS. THIS ACTIVITY OUTLINES THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF E.COLI O157: H7 INFECTION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.