ESCHERICHIA COLI

Course overview

ESCHERICHIA COLI (E. COLI) IS A GRAM-NEGATIVE BACILLUS THAT IS A CAUSATIVE ORGANISM OF MANY DIARRHEAL ILLNESSES, INCLUDING TRAVELER’S DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY. E. COLI IS THE MOST COMMON PATHOGEN LEADING TO UNCOMPLICATED CYSTITIS, AND ALSO RESULTS IN OTHER EXTRAINTESTINAL ILLNESSES, INCLUDING PNEUMONIA, BACTEREMIA, AND ABDOMINAL INFECTIONS SUCH AS SPONTANEOUS BACTERIAL PERITONITIS. ILLNESS CAUSED BY E. COLI HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON PATIENTS AND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SO PROMPT RECOGNITION, AND APPROPRIATE TREATMENT ARE NECESSARY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE DIFFERENT E. COLI STRAINS THAT CAUSE HUMAN ILLNESS AND DESCRIBES HOW TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT THESE ILLNESSES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.