E. Coli

Our Approach

While there is no cure for an E. coli infection, most healthy adults recover with rest and fluids. If the infection is serious and causes kidney failure, dialysis can remove the toxins. Doctors may also recommend a blood transfusion.

If you have an E. coli infection, our doctors will also recommend avoiding antibiotics and antidiarrheal medicines. These medicines increase your chances for complications. Antidiarrheal medicines slow the body's digestive system, making it more difficult for your body to get rid of the bacteria.

How is E. coli diagnosed?

Your doctor will check you for a fever, which often accompanies other gastrointestinal infections that share symptoms with E. coli. If you have a fever, your doctor may try to rule out other causes for your symptoms.

Your doctor will also ask questions about what you have eaten and where you have visited in the last few days. You may also provide a stool sample for analysis.

What is E. coli?

E. coli is a bacterium found in the human intestine. It has many strains, most of which are harmless or cause minor cramps or diarrhea. Some strains of the germ, however, can cause more damage.

One particularly harmful strain, E. coli O157:H7, can cause bloody diarrhea and vomiting. It can also lead to a life-threatening form of kidney failure in people with weakened immune systems.

What causes E. coli infection?

Eating food contaminated with E. coli can cause infection. Foods that are more likely to harbor E. coli include:

• Ground beef
• Unpasteurized milk
• Fresh produce (often leafy vegetables) grown near cows

You can also be exposed to E. coli through:

• Water supplies contaminated with human or animal feces
• Petting zoos
• Infected people

Just one mouthful of contaminated water or undercooked beef can make you sick.

E. coli symptoms

Symptoms usually begin a few days after infection with E. coli. They include:

• Fever
• Diarrhea that may be watery but can become bloody
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe stomach cramps

How to prevent an E. coli infection

The best way to fight E. coli is to avoid it:

• Cook hamburger meat until there's no pink, and it reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle.
• Drink pasteurized milk and juice.
• Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
• If someone in your household is infected, wash utensils and hands in warm, soapy water.