Pathogens
Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli

Precautions

See 'Additional Information'

General Information

Fermenting gram-negative rod, of the Enterobacterales 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 (resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporin)

Treatment of choice for ESBL strains is a carbapenem.