Pathogens
Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli

Precautions

Routine Practices

General Information

Facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus of the Enterobacterales order.

Most predominant facultative anaerobe found in the colonic flora of healthy humans and animals. Likely does not occur as a free-living organism in the environment.

Global distribution. Transmission by ingestion of contaminated material, person-to-person contact, or contact with environment.

Community acquired infections including:

  • Acute gastroenteritis (ETEC, EPEC, EIEC, STEC, EIEC, DAEC)
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Neonatal meningitis
  • Sepsis/bloodstream infections

Nosocomial infections including:

  • Intra-abdominal infections/abscess
  • Hospital-acquired pneumonia
  • Central line associated bloodstream infections