Pathogens
Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli

Precautions

See 'Additional Information'

General Information

Preferred

  •  Ceftriaxone
  •  Cefazolin (Urinary isolates)
  • Amoxicillin/ampicillin (If susceptible)

Alternative

  • Levofloxacin (Severe β-lactam allergy)

ESBL

  • Meropenem (for invasive infections)

CRE

  • Contact microbiology laboratory for ceftazidime-avibactam and meropenem-vaborbactam susceptibility
  • Consult ID

Fermenting gram negative rod, of the Enterobacteriaceae family

Normal GI flora.

Most predominant gram negative bacillus.

Most common cause of UTI.

Also common:

  • Intra-abdominal infection/abscess
  • Nosocomial pneumonia
  • Bacteremia
  • Prosthetic device infection
  • Gastroenteritis, ranging from travelers diarrhea to invasive infection with hemolytic-uremic syndrome
  • Myriad other manifestations
  • Note endocarditis is rare.

May require contact precautions if highly resistant i.e. ESBL, carbapenem resistant.

Treatment of choice for ESBL strains is a carbapenem.