Coliform bacteria are always present in the digestive tract of animals and humans, as well as in their waste products. They can also be found on plants, soil and water, where contamination is a major problem due to the possibility of infection by diseases caused by various pathogens.
Harm to the body
Are coliform bacteria harmful? Most of them do not cause disease, however, some rare strains of E. coli can cause serious illness. In addition to humans, sheep and cattle may also be infected. It is a matter of concern that contaminated water in its own way external characteristics no different from ordinary drinking in taste, smell and appearance. Coliform bacteria are found even in which is considered to be flawless in every sense. Testing is the only reliable way to find out about the presence of pathogenic bacteria.
What happens when discovered?
What to do if coliform bacteria or any other bacteria are found in drinking water? In this case, repair or modification of the water supply system will be required. When used for disinfection, mandatory boiling is provided, as well as retesting, which can confirm that the contamination was not eliminated if it was thermotolerant coliform bacteria.
indicator organisms
Common coliforms are often referred to as indicator organisms because they indicate the potential presence of pathogenic bacteria in water, such as E. coli. While most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, some can produce toxins, cause serious illness, and even death. If pathogenic bacteria are present in the body, the most common symptoms are gastrointestinal upset, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Symptoms are more pronounced in children or older family members.
safe water
If there are no common coliform bacteria in the water, then it can be assumed with almost certainty that it is microbiologically safe to drink.
If they were found, then it would be justified to conduct additional tests.
Bacteria love warmth and moisture.
Temperature and weather conditions also play an important role. For example, E. coli prefers to live on the surface of the earth and loves warmth, thus coliform bacteria in drinking water appear as a result of movement in underground streams during warm and humid weather conditions, while the smallest number of bacteria will be found in the winter season.
Impact chlorination
To effectively destroy bacteria, chlorine is used, which oxidizes all impurities. Its amount will be affected by water characteristics such as pH and temperature. On average, the weight per liter is approximately 0.3-0.5 milligrams. It takes approximately 30 minutes to kill common coliform bacteria in drinking water. Contact time can be reduced by increasing the dose of chlorine, but this may require additional filters to remove specific tastes and odors.
Harmful ultraviolet light
Ultraviolet rays are considered a popular disinfection option. This method does not involve the use of any chemical compounds. However, this agent is not used where the total coliform bacteria exceed one thousand colonies per 100 ml of water. The device itself consists of a UV lamp surrounded by a sleeve of quartz glass through which a liquid flows, irradiated with ultraviolet light. The raw water inside the apparatus must be completely clean and free from any visible contaminants, blockages or turbidity to allow exposure of all harmful organisms.
Other cleaning options
There are many other treatment methods used to disinfect water. However, they are not recommended as long term for various reasons.
- Boiling. At 100 degrees Celsius for one minute, bacteria are effectively killed. This method is often used to disinfect water during emergencies or if necessary. This takes time and is an energy intensive process and is generally only applied in small amounts of water. This is not a long-term or permanent option for water disinfection.
- Ozonation. V last years this method is used as a way to improve water quality, eliminate various problems, including bacterial contamination. Like chlorine, ozone is a strong oxidizing agent that kills bacteria. But at the same time, this gas is unstable, and it can only be obtained with the help of electricity. Ozone units are generally not recommended for disinfection because they are much more expensive than chlorination or UV systems.
- Iodization. The once popular method of disinfection in Lately recommended only for short-term or emergency disinfection of water.
thermotolerant coliform bacteria
This is a special group of living organisms that are able to ferment lactose at 44-45 degrees Celsius. These include the genus Escherichia and some species of Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter. If foreign organisms are present in the water, this indicates that it has not been sufficiently cleaned, re-contaminated, or contains nutrients in excess. When they are detected, it is necessary to check for the presence of coliform bacteria that are resistant to elevated temperatures.
Microbiological analysis
If coliforms were found, then this may indicate that they got into the water. Thus, various diseases begin to spread. Contaminated drinking water can contain strains of Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli and many other pathogens that range from mild disorders digestive tract to the most severe forms of dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever and many others.
Household sources of infection
For quality drinking water are monitored, it is regularly checked by specialized sanitary services. And what can do a common person to protect yourself and protect yourself from unwanted infection? What are the sources of water pollution in the home?
- Water from the cooler. How more people touch this device, the greater the likelihood of penetration of harmful bacteria. Studies show that the water in every third cooler is simply teeming with living organisms.
- Rainwater. Surprisingly, the moisture collected after the rain is a favorable environment for the development of coliform bacteria. Advanced gardeners do not use such water even for watering plants.
- Lakes and reservoirs are also at risk, since all living organisms multiply faster in stagnant water, and not just bacteria. An exception is the oceans, where the development and spread of harmful forms is minimal.
- Pipeline condition. If the sewers have not been changed and cleaned for a long time, this can also lead to trouble.
Determination of the microbial number of water.
The order of the work.
The microbial number of water is the number of colonies of microorganisms that grow when 1 ml of water is sown on RPA for 24 hours at a temperature of 37 ° C. This indicator does not determine all microorganisms, but only those that are able to grow on RPA at a specified temperature, i.e. these are saprophytic, mesophilic, aerobic and part of facultative anaerobic microbes. The microbial number of water characterizes its general contamination with microorganisms and for tap water should not exceed 50.
When determining the microbial number of tap water, water from springs, artesian wells, the sample is sown without dilution, and water from open reservoirs is diluted sterile water. The degree of dilution is chosen based on the expected contamination of the water. From each sample, at least two different dilutions are used for inoculation so that from 30 to 300 colonies grow on the plates. Water is introduced with a sterile pipette into a sterile Petri dish, observing the rules of sterility, then 15 ml of melted and cooled to 45 ° C RPA or MPA are poured into the cup, water is mixed with a nutrient medium with a rotational movement. After the medium has solidified, the cups are placed upside down in a thermostat. On the lid record all the data on the analysis. Crops of tap water are grown for 24 hours at a temperature of 37°C, and crops of water from natural reservoirs are grown for another 48 hours at a temperature of 20°C. Colonies are counted both in depth and on the surface of the medium. Plates are not taken into account if less than 20 colonies grew when inoculating 1 ml of water from a dilution of 1:100 or more, and cups are not taken into account if they contain the growth of creeping colonies masking more than ½ cup.
Calculate the arithmetic mean for parallel samples. With a small number of colonies, colonies are counted on the entire surface of the dish; with abundant growth of colonies, it is permissible to count the colonies in 10 squares of 1 cm 2, determine the average for 10 counts and recalculate to the area of the Petri dish using the formula:
M \u003d pr 2 * n, where:
M is the microbial number of water, cells/ml;
n is the average number of colonies per 1 cm 2 of the area of the Petri dish;
r is the radius of the Petri dish = 4.5 cm;
The calculation result is rounded as follows:
Table 4
Calculation results
E. coli is a collection of bacteria that have common features that can vary greatly depending on the biocenosis in which the microbe develops. The properties of Escherichia coli change especially sharply when pathogenic microbes are introduced into the host organism. In this case, E. coli may lose the ability to ferment lactose (lactose-negative variants are formed - E. coli strains). Such bacteria are isolated in mass quantities from patients with typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, dysentery at the end of the disease and at the beginning of the recovery period.
E. coli was discovered in 1885 by Escherich. It is a small gram-negative rod, the length of the rod is 2.5-3.0 microns, the diameter is 0.5-0.8 microns, it can give coccoid forms and filaments, it does not form spores, some strains form a capsule, most are mobile, have 2- 6 flagella, but immobile forms are also found.
E. coli grows well on MPA, RPA, RB, MB. On dense media, it gives round, fine-grained colonies 2-3 mm in diameter, milky bluish, colonies can be smooth and rough. When growing on the broth, diffuse turbidity first appears, after a few days a precipitate forms, and a delicate film appears on the surface.
E. coli ferments glucose, lactose, maltose, mannitol with the formation of acid and gas by the type of heterofermentative lactic acid fermentation; it does not ferment sucrose. Gelatin does not liquefy, decomposes tryptophan with the formation of indole (but there are forms that do not form indole), curdles milk after 1-4 days, does not form hydrogen sulfide.
The International Standard differentiates between E. coli bacteria and fecal coli bacteria.
The bacteria of the Escherichia coli group (ECG) ferment lactose at a temperature of 35-37°C, and the bacteria of the fecal Escherichia coli group (FGC) ferment it at 44°C.
Identification of Escherichia coli is carried out on the basis of a group of signs TIMAC (TLIMAC): T - temperature test (Aikman test). For E. coli, this test is positive because it ferments carbohydrates at a temperature of 43-44 ° C to acid and gas. Most bacteria of other groups do not have this feature. However, there is evidence that elevated temperatures are not optimal for E. coli, and growth of E. coli isolated from faeces at 37°C is greater than at 43°C.
I - the formation of indole. E. coli forms indole during the breakdown of tryptophan, tyrazine, phenylalanine. Definition of indole:
1) according to the Morel method - an indicator paper moistened with a 12% solution of oxalic acid is suspended in a test tube with a culture of the bacterium under study. The next day, in the presence of indole, the paper turns pink. This method is quite simple and convenient.
2) The Legal-Weil method is more sensitive. To a daily or two-day broth culture add 5 drops of 5% sodium nitroprusside solution, 5 drops of 40% NaOH solution and 7 drops of concentrated CH 3 COOH. In the presence of indole, a blue-green or dark blue color appears.
M - reaction with methyl red serves to determine the intensity of acid formation. The indicator methyl red is added to the liquid culture of bacteria. With intense acid formation, which is typical for E. coli, the color of the culture changes to crimson.
A - the reaction of the formation of acetylmethylcarbinol (acetoin CH 3 CHOHCOOSCH 3) - the Voges-Proskauer reaction. A 40% KOH solution is added to a liquid culture of bacteria; in the presence of acetylmethylcarbinol, a pink color appears. E. coli does not form acetylmethylcarbinol.
C - citrate test. Characterizes the ability of bacteria to assimilate citric acid or its salts in liquid Coser medium or solid Simmons medium. Fecal Escherichia coli do not grow on these media. These bacteria are citrate negative. If the bacterium is able to assimilate citrates - citrate positive, this indicates that E. coli survived in the natural environment for quite a long time and is no longer an indicator of fresh fecal contamination.
L - lactose fermentation. Sanitary-indicative forms of this family. Enterobacteriaceae ferment lactose with the formation of acid and gas (lactose-positive forms). Pathogenic bacteria from this family - salmonella and shigella do not ferment lactose.
An additional test is the ability of bacteria to break down urea. E. coli does not break down urea.
Most Escherichia coli are mobile. The motility of bacteria is determined in a column of Hiss nutrient semi-liquid medium or Peshkov's medium. Sowing is performed by injection. Non-motile bacteria grow in the form of a strand, while motile ones cause a general turbidity of the medium.
Table 5
The classification of bacteria of the Escherichia coli group according to Minkevich, based on the evolutionary development of the family. Enterobacteriaceae
Bacteria do not liquefy gelatin, with the exception of E. coli aerogenes, in which this feature is variable.
Entering the external environment, E. coli commune adapts and after six months turns into E. coli citrovorum, begins to grow on media with citrates, ferments sucrose and stops fermenting sugars at a temperature of 43º C, then it turns into E. coli aerogenes, which, to the above signs acquires the ability to produce acetylmethylcarbinol.
E. coli forms purple colonies on Levin's nutrient medium, red colonies on bactoagar, yellow colonies on Kichenko's medium, and red colonies on Ressel's medium with Andrede's indicator.
Found in soil and water bodies. Pathogenic forms - causative agents of intestinal diseases (coli infections). A classic object of molecular genetic research.
E. coli (Escherichia coli) is one of the representatives of the normal intestinal flora, a saprophyte of the large intestine. Opportunistic and pathogenic serotypes of Escherichia coli cause various forms of the infectious process.
Escherichia coli, one of the members of the intestinal bacteria group, is an indicator of faecal contamination.
Escherichia coli (or simply E. coli) are gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, genus Escherichia (Escherichia). They are named after the German scientist T. Escherich who discovered them in 1885.
E. coli is a common inhabitant of the intestines of many mammals, in particular, primates, which include humans. Therefore, it is often called coli. In the human body, E. coli performs a useful role by inhibiting growth harmful bacteria and synthesizing some vitamins.
However, there are varieties of E. coli bacteria that can cause acute intestinal diseases in humans. Currently, there are more than 150 types of pathogenic (so-called "enterovirulent") E. coli sticks, combined into four classes: enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EGEC).
Bacteria of the Escherichia coli group are not resistant to high temperatures; at 60 ° C, their death occurs after 15 minutes, at 100 ° C - instantly. The persistence of Escherichia coli at low temperatures and in various environmental substrates has not been studied enough. According to some reports, E. coli can persist in water and soil for several months.
Conventional disinfectants (phenol, formalin, sublimate, sodium hydroxide, creolin, bleach, etc.) in conventional dilutions quickly kill E. coli
Intestinal diseases caused by pathogenic E. coli are united under the general name of escherichiosis. The terms coli-infection, coli-enteritis, travelers' diarrhea, colibacillosis (mainly in veterinary medicine) are also used. Escherichiosis refers to acute intestinal diseases with a fecal-oral mechanism of infection. Each of the above classes of pathogenic E. coli is characterized by certain differences in the course of the disease, which in its symptoms may resemble cholera or dysentery. The incubation period lasts 3-6 days (usually 4-5 days).
Media and distribution
Human danger
The infectious dose strongly depends on the type of pathogenic E. coli (for example, for enterotoxigenic E. coli, this value can be from 100 million to 10 billion bacteria, while for enteroinvasive and presumably enterohemorrhagic E. coli - only 10 organisms). Children are most susceptible to the disease early age, elderly and debilitated people. In children, escherichiosis occurs in the form of varying severity of enteritis, enterocolitis in combination with a syndrome of general intoxication. In moderate and severe forms, it is accompanied by fever, diarrhea, sepsis. In adults, the disease caused by Escherichia resembles acute dysentery in its course and clinical symptoms. Occurs more often in the erased and mild forms, less often (15-20%) moderate and severe (3%) forms occur. The prognosis in adults and children older than a year is favorable, the most severe disease occurs in children in the first half of life.
Definition- a group of anthroponotic bacterial infectious diseases with a fecal-oral mechanism of pathogen transmission. It is characterized by general intoxication of the body and intestinal dysfunction.
Pathogen- diarrheagenic strains of Escherichia coli Echerichia coli from the family Enterobacteriaceae of the genus Escherichie. Within this species, strains with more than 167 different somatic (o), 56 flagellated (H) and unequal capsular (K) natigens were identified. There are enterohemorrhagic, enteroinvasive, enteropathogenic, enteromorrhagic and enteroaggregativeF categories of Escherichia coli strains. Diarrheic Escherichia coli are stable in the environment, viable in milk up to 34 days, children nutrient mixtures- up to 92 days, on toys and household items up to 3-5 months. At 60-C they die after 10 minutes, under a stream of boiling water instantly, 1% solution of chloramine, 1-2% solution of bleach, 1% solution of phenol, 3% solution of lysol - zamin.
Reservoir and exciter sources: person, patient or carrier. Patients have a higher epidemiological significance than carriers.
Source infectivity period depends on the properties of the pathogen: with escherichiosis caused by ETEC and EHEC, the patient is contagious only in the first days of the disease, in cases of EIEC and EPECned, sometimes up to 3 weeks. Carriers can shed the pathogen for months.
Pathogen transmission mechanism fecal-oral; ways of transmission - food, water, household (through contaminated hands, toys, etc.).
Natural susceptibility of people high, especially pronounced among newborns and debilitated children. About 35% of children who have been in contact with a source of the infectious agent become carriers. Post-infection immunity appears to be serotyped.
Main epidemiological signs. The disease is ubiquitous. The vast majority of diseases (up to 90%) are registered among children of the first year of life. Manifestations epidemic process are different in escherichiosis caused by different pathogens. Escherichiosis caused by ETEC occurs mainly in developing countries in tropical and subtropical regions; more often sporadic, less often group diseases are recorded, mainly among children aged 1-3 years. In adults, the incidence often takes on the character of Traveler's Udiarrhea. Escherichiosis caused by EIEC is registered in all climatic zones, but prevails in developing countries. Diseases are more often of a group nature, prevail among children 1.5-2 years old, have a summer-autumn seasonality, often spread as a nosocomial infection, EPEC more often causes sporadic morbidity, being recorded in all climatic zones, mainly among children under the age of 1 year, in mainly among those who are bottle-fed, often spreading as a nosocomial infection. With regard to Escherichiosis caused by EHEC and EAEC, there are few epidemic observations: diseases have been identified in countries North America and Europe among children over 1 year old and adults; summer-autumn seasonality is typical, outbreaks in nursing homes are noted.
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Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli (Escherichia coli) - gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria, belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae, genus Escherichia (Escherichia), short (length 1-3 microns, width - 0.5-0.8 microns), polymorphic motile and immotile, spores do not form. They were first discovered by the German scientist T. Escherich in 1885. E. coli have been isolated from human remains. E. coli is a natural inhabitant of the large intestine of many mammals, in particular primates and humans. Escherichia genera belong to the bacteria of the Escherichia coli group ( typical representative E. coli), Citrobacter (a typical representative of Citr. coli citrovorum), Enterobacter (a typical representative of Ent. aerogenes), which are united in one Enterobacteriaceae family due to the common morphological and cultural properties.
In the human body, E. coli inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria and synthesizes some vitamins. There are varieties of E. coli that can cause acute intestinal diseases in humans. There are more than 150 types of pathogenic (so-called "enterovirulent") E. coli sticks, combined into four classes: enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EGEC)
Rice. 1 E. coli - electron microscope
Bacteria grow well on simple nutrient media: meat-peptone broth (MPB), meat-peptone agar (MPA). On the MPB they give abundant growth with significant turbidity of the medium; the sediment is small, grayish in color, easily broken. They form a parietal ring, the film on the surface of the broth is usually absent. On MPA, the colonies are transparent with a grayish-blue tint, easily merging with each other. On Endo's medium, flat red colonies of medium size form. Red colonies can be with a dark metallic luster (E. coli) or without luster (E. aerogenes). For lactose-negative variants of Escherichia coli (B.paracoli), colorless colonies are characteristic. They are characterized by wide adaptive variability, as a result of which various variants arise, which complicates their classification.
Rice. 2 E. coli colonies on solid medium
Most bacteria of the Escherichia coli group (ECG) do not liquefy gelatin, coagulate milk, break down peptones with the formation of amines, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and have high enzymatic activity against lactose, glucose and other sugars, as well as alcohols. They do not have oxidase activity. According to their ability to break down lactose at a temperature of 37 ° C, BGKP are divided into lactose-negative and lactose-positive Escherichia coli (LCE), or coliforms, which are formed according to international standards. From the LKP group, fecal Escherichia coli (FEC) stand out, capable of fermenting lactose at a temperature of 44.5 ° C. These include E. coli, not growing on a citrate medium.
Stability in the external environment
E. coli are not heat tolerant. The bacteria of the Escherichia coli group are rendered harmless by conventional pasteurization methods (°C). At 60 ° C, E. coli dies after 15 minutes. A 1% solution of phenol causes the death of the microbe in 5-15 minutes, sublimate at a dilution of 1: 2 minutes, resistant to many aniline dyes. The persistence of Escherichia coli at low temperatures and in various environmental substrates has not been studied enough. According to some reports, E. coli can persist in water and soil for several months.
The sanitary and indicative value of individual genera of bacteria of the group of Escherichia coli is not the same. The detection of bacteria of the genus Escherichia in food, water, soil, and equipment indicates fresh fecal contamination, which is of great sanitary and epidemiological significance. It is believed that bacteria of the genera Citrobacter and Enterobacter are indicators of older (several weeks) faecal contamination and therefore they have a lower sanitary value than bacteria of the genus Escherichia. With prolonged use of antibiotics in the human intestine, they also detect various options coli. Of particular interest are the lactose-negative variants of Escherichia coli. These are modified Escherichia that have lost the ability to ferment lactose. They are secreted in human intestinal infections ( typhoid fever, dysentery, etc.) during the recovery period. E. coli that do not grow on Coser's medium (citrate medium) and ferment carbohydrates at 43-45°C (E. coli) have the greatest sanitary and indicative value. They are an indicator of fresh fecal contamination.
Diseases caused in humans by E. coli
Intestinal diseases caused by pathogenic E. coli are united under the general name of escherichiosis. The terms coli-infection, coli-enteritis, travelers' diarrhea, colibacillosis are also used.
Escherichiosis refers to acute intestinal diseases (AII) with a fecal-oral mechanism of infection. Each of the above classes of pathogenic E. coli is characterized by certain differences in the course of the disease, which in its symptoms may resemble cholera or dysentery. The incubation period lasts 3-6 days (usually 4-5 days).
Media and distribution
As already mentioned, E.Coli bacteria are part of the normal intestinal flora of not only humans, but also large cattle, pigs. The young of the latter are often infected with colibacillosis and, accordingly, their meat (beef or pork) can serve as a source of infection. Pets (dogs, cats) are also susceptible to this disease, but the main way of infection is still fecal contamination of drinking water or food.
The infective dose strongly depends on the type of pathogenic E. coli (for example, for enterotoxigenic E. coli, this value can be from 100 million to 10 billion bacteria, while for enteroinvasive and presumably enterohemorrhagic E. coli - only 10 organisms, as in shigella). The most susceptible to the disease are young children, the elderly and debilitated people.
In children, escherichiosis occurs in the form of varying severity of enteritis, enterocolitis in combination with a syndrome of general intoxication. In moderate and severe forms, it is accompanied by fever, diarrhea, sepsis.
In adults, the disease caused by E. coli resembles the course and clinical symptoms of acute dysentery. It occurs more often in erased and mild forms, less often (15-20%) there is a moderate and severe (3%) form.
The prognosis in adults and children older than a year is favorable, the most severe disease occurs in children in the first half of life.
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E. coli - diseases, transmission routes, symptoms of intestinal infections and diseases of the genitourinary tract (in a woman, in a man, in a child), methods of treatment. Detection of the bacterium in a urine sample and in a vaginal swab
Brief description and varieties of Escherichia coli
Bacteria of the type of Escherichia coli are heterogeneous, since they include about 100 varieties, most of which are non-pathogenic and constitute the normal intestinal microflora of humans and some mammals. Pathogenic varieties (strains) cause infectious inflammatory diseases organs to which they enter. And since most often pathogenic E. coli enter the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system, then, as a rule, they cause inflammatory diseases of these organs. However, when newborns or parturient women are infected, pathogenic E. coli can enter the bloodstream and enter the brain with its current, causing meningitis or sepsis (blood poisoning).
E. coli under a microscope - video
Pathogenic varieties of bacteria
Currently, there are four main groups of pathogenic Escherichia coli:
- Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPKP or ETEC);
- Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC);
- Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC or EIEC);
- Enterohemorrhagic (hemolytic) Escherichia coli (EHEC or EHEC).
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli most often cause infectious and inflammatory diseases. small intestine in infants under one year of age, and "traveler's diarrhea" in adults and children over one year old.
E. coli: features of the genome, causes of outbreaks of intestinal diseases, how bacteria acquire pathogenic properties - video
What diseases are caused by E. coli?
The set of infectious and inflammatory diseases caused by Escherichia coli in various bodies and systems, called escherichiosis or coli infections (from the Latin name of the bacterium - Escherichia coli). Escherichiosis have different course and localization, depending on which organ the E. coli got into.
Ways of transmission of infection
E. coli is transmitted mainly by the oral-fecal or, less commonly, contact-household route. In the oral-fecal route of transmission, Escherichia coli with stool enters water or soil, as well as on agricultural plants. Further, infection can occur in various ways, for example, when swallowing dirty water, bacteria enter the body and lead to the development of intestinal infections. In other cases, a person comes into contact with contaminated plants or soil with their hands, and transfers E. coli to food or directly into the body if they eat or lick own hands without washing them first.
coli in women
When pathological varieties of Escherichia coli enter the digestive tract of women, intestinal infections develop, which, as a rule, have a benign course and disappear on their own within 2 to 10 days. These intestinal infections are the most common diseases caused by E. coli in women. However, intestinal infections, as a rule, do not give complications and do not cause long-term chronic diseases, so their value for women is not too great.
- Non-observance of hygiene (a woman does not wash herself regularly, the remains of feces after bowel movements accumulate on the skin of the perineum, anus and genitals, etc.);
- Wearing too tight underwear (in this case, the skin of the perineum sweats and particles of feces remaining on the skin of the anus after defecation move to the entrance to the vagina, eventually getting into it);
- Incorrect washing technique (a woman first washes the anus area, and then with the same dirty hand washes the external genitalia);
- A specific technique of sexual intercourse, in which penetration occurs first into the rectum, and then into the vagina (in this case, particles of feces with E. coli remain on the penis or sexual toys after penetration into the rectum, which are brought into the vagina);
- Ordinary vaginal intercourse with ejaculation in the vagina with a man suffering from chronic prostatitis, orchitis or epididymitis caused by E. coli (in this case, E. coli, carried by her sexual partner, enters the woman's vagina with sperm).
After penetration into the vagina and urethra, E. coli provoke acute colpitis and urethritis, respectively. If these infectious and inflammatory diseases are not cured, then E. coli will remain in the genital tract or urethra, since the bacterium is able to attach to the mucous membrane, and therefore is not washed out by the urine stream or vaginal secretions. And remaining in the urethra or vagina, E. coli can rise to the overlying organs of the urinary and reproductive systems - the bladder, kidneys, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cause inflammatory diseases in them (cystitis, pyelonephritis, endometritis, salpingitis, adnexitis). According to statistics, approximately 80% of all cystitis in women is provoked by E. coli, and the cause of almost all cases of pyelonephritis or bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine) in pregnant women is also E. coli.
coli in men
In men, as in women, E. coli can cause intestinal infections and inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. At the same time, intestinal infections are caused only by pathogenic varieties of bacteria, proceed relatively favorably and, as a rule, disappear on their own within 3 to 10 days. In principle, intestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli, each man suffers several times during his life, and these diseases are not of great importance, they are not dangerous and do not leave consequences.
E. coli during pregnancy
In pregnant women, E. coli is often detected in a vaginal smear and in the urine. Moreover, many women say that before pregnancy, the bacterium was never found in the analyzes. This does not mean that the woman became infected during pregnancy. On the contrary, the detection of Escherichia coli indicates that a woman has long been a carrier of Escherichia coli, just during pregnancy her immune system can no longer suppress the activity of this microbe, as a result of which it multiplied so much that it could be detected in the tests.
- Amoxiclav - can be used throughout pregnancy;
- Cefotaxime - can be used only from the 27th week of pregnancy until childbirth;
- Cefepime - can be used only from the 13th week of pregnancy until childbirth;
- Ceftriaxone - can only be used from the 13th week of pregnancy until childbirth;
- Furagin - can be used until the 38th week of pregnancy, and from 38 to childbirth - it is impossible;
- All antibiotics of the penicillin group.
Antibiotics are taken for 3 to 10 days, after which a urine test is taken. 1 to 2 months after the end of treatment, a bacterial urine culture is given, and if it is negative, then the therapy is considered completed, since Escherichia coli is not detected. But if E. coli is detected in the bacterial culture of urine, then the treatment is carried out again, changing the antibiotic.
E. coli in the baby
In infants in the feces, when analyzing for dysbacteriosis or coprogram (coprology), two types of Escherichia coli are often found - hemolytic and lactose-negative. In principle, hemolytic Escherichia coli in the feces of either an infant or an adult should not be present, since it is a purely pathogenic microbe and causes intestinal infections that proceed like hemorrhagic colitis.
Symptoms of infection
E. coli can cause various intestinal infections and diseases of the genitourinary tract. Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs develop, as a rule, in adult men and women, and their symptoms are quite typical, the same as when infected with other pathogenic microbes. Clinical manifestations cystitis, urethritis, vaginitis, adnexitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis caused by Escherichia coli are quite standard, so we will describe them briefly.
E. coli - symptoms in children
Since children practically do not have inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs caused by E. coli, babies for the most part suffer from intestinal infections provoked by pathogenic varieties of Escherichia coli. Therefore, in this section, we will consider the symptoms of intestinal infections in children under 3 years of age caused by pathogenic E. coli.
What does the detection of E. coli in various tests mean?
E. coli in urine or bladder
Detection of Escherichia coli in urine is alarm signal, indicating that the urinary organs are infected with this microbe, and they have a sluggish inflammatory process that does not manifest clinical symptoms. If Escherichia coli is found in the bladder, then this indicates that only this organ is infected and that there is also an inflammatory process in it, which proceeds sluggishly and subacutely, without clinical symptoms. Activation of Escherichia coli and the development of inflammation with clinical symptoms in any organ of the urinary system or specifically in the bladder in such a situation - only a matter of time. Inflammation can become acute and symptomatic, for example, with hypothermia or stress, when the immune system is weakened, as a result of which E. coli multiplies and provokes the disease.
E. coli in a smear (in the vagina)
The detection of E. coli in the vagina is an alarm for a woman, since this bacterium should not be in the genital tract. And when it is in the vagina, Escherichia coli sooner or later will cause an infectious and inflammatory disease of any female genital organ. At best, E. coli will provoke colpitis, and at worst, it will penetrate from the vagina into the uterus and further into the ovaries, causing endometritis or adnexitis. In addition, from the vagina, the bacterium can enter the bladder and cause cystitis.
coli in the sea
If, according to epidemiological studies, E. coli is found in the sea, then it is better not to swim in such water, since if it is accidentally swallowed, infection with the development of an intestinal infection is possible. If, despite the presence of E. coli, a decision is made to swim in the sea, then you should do this with caution, trying not to swallow water so as not to become infected with an intestinal infection.
E. coli in the Black Sea: in 2016, the number of intestinal infections breaks records - video
Analysis for Escherichia coli
To detect E. coli in various organs, the following tests are currently being performed:
- Bacteriological culture of faeces, urine, vomit, discharge of the genital organs. During the analysis biological fluids are sown on a nutrient medium, the composition of which is adapted for the growth of Escherichia coli. If colonies of Escherichia coli grow on the medium, then the result of the analysis is considered positive and means that there are Escherichia coli in the organ from which the biological secretions were taken.
- Coprogram or fecal analysis for dysbacteriosis. In the course of these analyzes, it is revealed which microorganisms are contained in the feces and in what quantity. If, according to the results of a coprogram or analysis for dysbacteriosis, pathogenic E. coli are detected, this means that the person has an intestinal infection. If, according to the results of the analyzes, non-pathogenic Escherichia coli are detected, but in an abnormal amount, then this indicates dysbacteriosis.
Norm of Escherichia coli
In human feces total typical E. coli should be 10 7 -10 8 CFU / g. The number of lactose-negative Escherichia coli should be no more than 10 5 CFU / g. Hemolytic Escherichia coli in the feces of any person, both an adult and a child, should be absent.
Treatment
Treatment of diseases of the genitourinary tract in men and women caused by Escherichia coli is carried out with the help of antibiotics. At the same time, bacteriological culture is first performed with the determination of sensitivity to antibiotics in order to determine which drug will be most effective in this particular case. Next, choose one of the antibiotics, to which E. coli is sensitive, and prescribe it for a course of 3 to 14 days. 1 - 2 months after the end of the course of antibiotics, a control bacteriological culture is carried out. If, according to its results, E. coli is not detected, then the treatment was successful, and the person was completely cured, but if the bacterium is detected, then one should drink another antibiotic to which the microbe is sensitive.
- Cephalexin;
- Cefotaxime;
- Ceftazidime;
- Cefepime;
- Imipenem;
- Meropenem;
- Amikacin;
- Levofloxacin;
- Ofloxacin;
- Moxifloxacin.
Treatment of intestinal infections provoked by Escherichia coli in children and adults is carried out according to the same rules. The only difference in approaches to therapy is that children younger than a year old must be hospitalized in an infectious diseases hospital, and adults and babies older than a year old with a moderate and mild infection can be treated at home.
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Intestinal diseases
Two faces of Escherichia
The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) began to be considered as one of the problems public health since 1982, when it caused an outbreak in the United States of America.
E. coli is part of the normal intestinal microflora of many mammals, including humans, often referred to as Escherichia coli. In the human intestine, E.coli performs useful functions - it inhibits the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria and is involved in the synthesis of certain vitamins.
However, some strains of E. coli are themselves pathogenic and can cause severe intestinal illness. These include enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). EHEC produces toxins similar to those produced by Shigella, the causative agent of dysentery.
Infection with Escherichia coli occurs mainly through the consumption of contaminated food, such as raw or undercooked meat products or raw milk.
Reproduction of EHEC bacteria can be accelerated at temperatures from +7 to +50°C (optimum for their vital activity is +37°C). During heat treatment of products (temperature + 70 ° C or higher), bacteria die. Disinfectants such as phenol, formalin, sublimate, sodium hydroxide, bleach, etc. have a detrimental effect on E. coli. But E. coli can persist in water and soil for several months.
Common name intestinal diseases caused by pathogenic E. coli - escherichiosis. They are also known as coli infection, coli enteritis, traveler's diarrhea. Symptoms of diseases caused by EHEC bacteria are bloody diarrhoea, fever and vomiting. Usually the duration of the incubation period is 4-5 days, most of the sick people recover within ten days, but in about 10% of cases the disease can go into severe form especially in young children and the elderly.
The severe form of the disease leads to kidney failure - hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), fatal dangerous defeat kidney disease, also known as Gasser's disease. Mortality in this case is 3-5%.
The death of people from the German strain 0104 was precisely due to the development of HUS. At the same time, according to the expert of the Ministry of Health, Karl Lauterbach, about 100 patients received such severe kidney damage that they needed a kidney transplant or long-term dialysis.
But in general, if we count the number of cases (3304) and deaths (38), then the mortality rate for the disease with strain 0104 will be 1.15%, that is, it does not differ from the usual statistics of EHEC infections. For now, of course.
Intestinal diversion
In most cases, E. coli infection is associated with food. Most often, patients (33.2% of cases) indicate homemade dishes with violation of the rules of preparation or shelf life as a source of infection. 18.3% of patients believe that the cause of the disease was the use of fruits, and 17.6% - dairy products purchased in the markets or from private individuals.
If we talk about fruits and vegetables, then everyone knows that in Ukraine, for example, most of them are imported from abroad, and the volume of vegetable imports to Ukraine, say, in April 2011 compared to April 2010 increased by 2 times, and over the past five years, imports of such "native" products as potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes and onions have increased by 18.5 times. There is no need to explain how all this is carried in the heat, with downtime at various customs offices.
I'm not talking about Polish apples, but tomatoes from Turkey and potatoes from Egypt are no longer a curiosity for us. Recently, in a supermarket, saleswomen were touched: "Ah, an onion from Israel itself!" And what kind of time bomb might be in that tropical ray - only God knows.
Because, according to Deputy Chief Physician of the Central SES of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Viktor Svita, in Ukraine they are not even ready to diagnose E. coli - there are no appropriate drugs. And Pan Svita, of course, is not going to look into our guts.
Therefore, as always and in everything, the salvation of the drowning remains the work of the drowning themselves. And the main “straw” in this matter is prevention.
Put on prevention
The only reliable way to kill EHEC bacteria in foods at home is by cooking them. Plus, adherence to hygienic rules when preparing food to prevent contamination from other products, such as raw meat. In the hot summer, when flies fly everywhere, the risk of infection increases especially.
Therefore, all products that can be subjected to heat treatment (boiling, boiling, stewing, etc.) should be boiled, boiled and stewed. And cucumbers, for example, should be washed thoroughly clean water(creating a miserable illusion of hygiene), and ideally - scald with boiling water (it will not hurt them much). And then clean it up, of course.
V without fail the house should have two cutting boards - one made of synthetic material for raw meat and fish, and the second (maybe wooden) for vegetables, bread and prepared foods.
Ready-to-eat food should be stored under cling film, or in a cupboard or refrigerator. Windows should be covered in the summer with fine mesh or gauze to keep out flies. You should also not breed fruit flies, which start up very quickly on stale fruits and berries.
Theoretically, chlorinated water should not contain live E. coli, but who is there to check how much bleach is put into this water, and how many bacteria were originally contained in this water. Here is a fact unknown to the general public: if the infectious dose for enterotoxigenic E. coli can range from 100 million to 10 billion bacteria, then for enterohemorrhagic E. coli - only 10 organisms!
Therefore, water chlorination is PRACTICALLY NOT a defense against the most pathogenic strain of E. coli (see above mention of the pathetic illusion of hygiene). To avoid intestinal infections, only freshly boiled water should be used for drinking. Artesian water - except from a depth of at least 400 m; mineral factory spill - where is the guarantee that it is not taken just from the tap?
Various types of filters can be used depending on the technical characteristics. If the manufacturer guarantees that bacteria are filtered (and you believe this guarantee), then yes, but with the obligatory observance of the instructions for the life of the replaceable filter unit.
Ionizing filters that produce alkaline water at a given pH value can be used without any doubt. And the acidic component of water should be used for washing vegetables and fruits.
Here are five key rules to follow to prevent foodborne infections:
1. Keep clean:
- wash your hands before handling food and preparing food;
- wash your hands after using the toilet;
- wash and disinfect all surfaces and utensils used for food preparation;
- protect kitchen and food from insects, rodents and other animals.
2. Separate raw and cooked:
- separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other foods;
- for processing raw foods use separate kitchen utensils and utensils, such as knives and cutting boards;
- store foods in sealed containers to prevent contact between raw and cooked foods.
3. Fry or boil foods well:
- thoroughly fry or boil foods, especially meat, poultry, eggs and seafood;
- bring dishes such as soups and stir-fries to a boil to be sure they have reached 70°C. When cooking meat or poultry, their juices should be clear, not pink. The use of a thermometer is recommended;
- reheat cooked food thoroughly.
4. Keep food at a safe temperature:
- do not leave cooked food at room temperature more than 2 hours;
- refrigerate without delay all cooked and perishable food products(preferably below 5 ° C);
- keep cooked food hot (above 60°C) until serving;
- do not store food for a long time, even in the refrigerator;
- do not defrost food at room temperature.
5. Use safe water and safe raw foods:
- use safe water or ensure it is safe as a result of treatment;
- choose foods that have been processed to improve their safety, such as pasteurized milk;
- wash fruits and vegetables, especially when they are served raw;
- do not use products that have expired.
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E. coli in Latin is called Escherichia coli (E. coli) and is a species of bacteria that includes pathogenic and non-pathogenic varieties. Pathogenic varieties of Escherichia coli cause infectious and inflammatory diseases of the digestive tract, urinary and reproductive systems in men and women.
What is Escherichia coli?
E. coli (Escherichia coli) - bacteria belonging to the genus Escherichia and the family Enterobacteriaceae. These microorganisms are highly resistant, they are able to live for months in water, soil, feces.
A group of diseases associated with Escherichia coli and caused by pathogenic strains of bacteria is called escherichiosis. They act as the causes of diseases of the intestines, kidneys and other organs. This creates a number of problems in the field of digestion, the genitourinary system.
Bacteria multiply quickly and well in food, especially in milk, and therefore eating contaminated and contaminated with E. coli dishes causes infection with the subsequent development of an infectious and inflammatory disease.
Classification
E. coli are opportunistic (which include hemolyzing E. coli) and pathogenic. Scientists were able to isolate more than a hundred pathogenic strains of this bacterium, which were subsequently divided into four main classes, namely:
- enteroinvasive;
- enterotoxigenic;
- enteropathogenic;
- enterohemorrhagic.
These microorganisms can cause the development of escherichiosis - infectious diseases that, according to statistics, are most common in children and women (the infection is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, mainly through food or water).
| Form | Features of Escherichia coli |
| Enteropathogenic escherichiosis | Acute intestinal infection caused by enteropathogenic bacillus. Often the disease affects newborns, babies from birth to a year. Frequent clinical manifestation:
The baby begins to spit up often, refuses food. The child's sleep is disturbed, he becomes restless. The disease proceeds in a protracted form is not intense. |
| Enterotoxigenic | This type of E. coli lesion resembles a picture of food poisoning. Distinctive characteristics:
The disease affects adults, children of all ages. Often seen by travelers. |
| Enteroinvasive | Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli causes acute food poisoning in children and adults, the course of which is similar to. |
| Enterohemorrhagic | Enterohemorrhagic (hemolytic, hemolytic) Escherichia coli causes hemorrhagic colitis in children and adults or hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Both diseases require treatment. |
Reasons for ingestion
E. coli exists and multiplies under the condition of temperature environment at 37 degrees. It feeds in the intestines with minerals and breakdown products of amino acids. It retains its viability, getting into water bodies, soil and products.
The genus Escherichia belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. largest group varieties of microorganisms is beneficial to the body. Some strains are pathogenic in nature - a number of severe food poisonings appear, urinary infections. In severe immunodeficiency states, when E. coli has spread throughout the body, it can lead to the development of meningitis,.
main reason infection with intestinal infections is non-compliance with hygiene standards.
There are 2 ways in which the infection is transmitted:
- Water. The infection enters the body through the use of unboiled water or poor quality.
- Alimentary. It is characterized by the ingestion of contaminated food. With this method of infection, it is often found food poisoning in a person who used contaminated products for cooking. For the human body, such food is poison.
Orally, Escherichia coli enters the intestinal tract from:
- dirt on the hands;
- dirt on vegetables and fruits;
- insufficiently thermally processed meat;
- contaminated raw water;
- raw milk (according to statistics, this method of transmission is the most common).
Contact-household way of transmission rare. More often it can be observed with an outbreak of eshechiriosis in a separate room (maternity hospital, hospital, school, etc.). One of the most dangerous paths coli infection is the transmission of infection during childbirth from mother to child.
coli symptoms
Symptoms of E. coli infection manifest themselves in different ways, so each class of pathogenic bacteria must be considered separately. The health status of an infected person will depend on which group they belong to and at what rate E. coli multiply, the symptoms of the diseases are described below.
TO common features The development of pathogenic Escherichia coli in the body includes symptoms such as:
- Violation of the digestive process;
- Pain in the abdomen;
- Vomiting and nausea;
- Manifestations;
- Unpleasant odor felt from the mouth;
- Weakness;
- Drowsiness;
- Loss of appetite;
- Increased body temperature;
- Drop in blood pressure.
Depending on the type of bacteria, a person notices the presence of certain signs.
Symptoms depending on the type of bacteria
Escherichiosis caused by enteroinvasive bacilli causes damage to the large intestine. The disease develops with the onset of general intoxication symptoms:
- weakness,
- headache,
- chills
- temperature increase.
A few hours later there are cramping pains lower abdomen.
- Diarrhea occurs, the stools are at first watery and copious. But as the colon is affected, colitis develops.
- Symptoms of this condition are frequent liquid or mushy stools with an admixture of mucus, streaks of blood.
This variant of escherichiosis is characterized by a benign course. Temperature and stool normalize after one to three days.
Intestinal infections caused enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, in adults and children older than 3 years, they proceed according to the type of salmonellosis. That is, the disease begins acutely:
- nausea occurs
- vomit,
- stomach ache,
- moderately or slightly increased body temperature.
The chair becomes liquid, watery and plentiful, and the patient goes to the toilet 2-6 times a day. During bowel movements, stools literally splatter. The infection lasts an average of 3 to 6 days, after which recovery occurs.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are dangerous because they can attach specifically to the intestinal mucosa, which significantly disrupts its work. The infection is transmitted through unwashed hands or fruits, so the symptoms of intestinal bacteria in human body sometimes called "traveler's diarrhea", which is accompanied by:
- watery diarrhea without blood
- nausea,
- paroxysmal pain in the abdomen.
Manifestations of infection with enterohemorrhagic infection:
- Necrosis;
- Presence of blood clots (in stool);
- Peritonitis;
- Diarrhea (watery stools).
The symptoms of an infection in a child are more severe course, especially when newborns or children with low body weight are affected.
It can cause disease in other organs besides the intestines. V urinary tract this bacterium can also cause inflammation. In girls and women, this risk is higher than in men, because. they have a shortcut from the intestines to the urethra.
Complications
Some types of sticks can cause:
- poisoning;
- colibacillosis;
- intestinal dysbacteriosis;
- inflammation of the genitourinary system,;
- in newborns.
In rare cases, inflammatory diseases can cause complications:
- pneumonia;
- sepsis;
- mastitis.
It is dangerous for any bacteria to enter the woman's vagina. This leads to inflammation of the genital organs. Initially, vulvovaginitis or colpitis appears. If the pathogen is not eliminated in time, the infection rises to fallopian tubes and mother. Endometritis develops. With further movement of bacteria up the body, they enter the abdominal cavity observed peritonitis.
Disease caused by Escherichia coli manifests itself differently and can have a lot of complications on the organs and systems of the body. Therefore, the pathogen must be identified as early as possible and treated immediately.
Diagnostics
The infection is diagnosed based on bacteriological research. Often in the presence of a rod in the research material, which is the main part normal microflora intestine, it is very difficult to isolate a pure culture pathogenic bacterium. If an inflammatory process occurs in the body, urgent treatment is recommended. To obtain the result of the analysis, use:
- feces and vomit;
- blood;
- urine;
- pus;
- smears or scrapings taken from the mucous membranes of the genital organs.
coli treatment
Treatment of intestinal infections caused by coli is usually complex and includes the following items:
- Antibiotics. Antibacterial therapy forms the basis of the treatment of Escherichia coli. This or that drug is prescribed after determining the sensitivity of microorganisms to it. Most often, antibiotics of the cephalosporin group are recommended: Cefelim, Cefalexin, Levofloxacin. Drugs are taken in courses of 5-10 days.
- Bacteriophages. These are drugs that kill bacteria more gently and safely than antibiotics, but they are not always effective. Bacteriophages include Sextaphage, Intesti-bacteriophage, etc.
- Painkillers. If the pain in the abdomen is severe, painkillers such as No-shpa, Bral, Spazmalin, Nurofen are prescribed. However, they should not be taken for a long time.
- Probiotics (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, etc.) help restore the normal balance of pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms in the intestines.
Escherichiosis treatment should be carried out in a hospital:
- Mild forms of infection do not require an appointment antibacterial agents.
- In moderate forms of coli infection, antibiotics from the group of fluoroquinolones (norfloxacin, ofloxacin) are prescribed.
- In severe form of escherichiosis, drugs from the group of cephalosporins (cefotaxime), fluoroquinolones together with aminoglycosides are prescribed.
In addition to taking antibiotics, the patient must follow certain rules of treatment. If the patient has diarrhea or vomiting, then he must drink rehydration solutions without fail. With their help, the lost fluid and salt are replenished.
With every bowel movement and vomiting need to drink 300 to 600 milliliters of rehydration solution. For its preparation, pharmaceutical powder in the form of Trisol, Regidron, Glucosolan can be used.
To ensure the highest quality treatment of infectious diseases that occur when E. coli appears, it is recommended to take enterosorbents:
- Enterosgel;
- Polyphepan;
- Smecta;
- Filtrum.
Compliance with the diet. E. coli can be cured by observing a special diet. The menu should include more cereals cooked in water, slimy soups, boiled vegetables, lean meat and steamed fish.
Prevention
E. coli is destroyed during cooking, baking, pasteurization. However, this rule applies provided that the temperature is at least 70°C and the process continues for at least 2 minutes. Unlike others, the E. coli bacterium is characterized by resistance to cold, acidic environment, drying and high salt concentration.
Preventive actions to prevent diseases caused by E. coli:
- Compliance with personal hygiene: thorough washing of hands and face after the street and crowded places, a competent approach to intimate hygiene.
- Monitoring the purity of consumed raw products and bringing milk and meat to the desired state.
- Drink only high quality water.
- Use of disposable clothing in hospitals.
- Hygiene and health monitoring of pets.
- Regular cleaning of residential premises using reliable, but not aggressive detergents.
- Caution with eating in establishments Catering and during holidays in hot countries.
What is E. coli and why is it dangerous for the human body? Most of of these bacteria is a beneficial microflora, some microbial representatives of this group even make medicines to restore the intestinal biocenosis. However, among E. coli there are also species that can cause various infectious diseases in humans, ranging from a common intestinal disorder to sepsis.
How is E. coli transmitted
Since the main habitat of the bacillus is the intestines of people and animals, the transmission of this microorganism is possible through everything that is contaminated with feces. Potentially dangerous in terms of colonization with Escherichia coli are:
- water into which sewage and livestock effluents fall;
- vegetables and fruits contaminated with manure;
- unwashed hands;
- not past heat treatment meat and dairy products.
Thus, the main causes of E. coli infection include:
- low level of personal hygiene;
- non-observance of the basic rules of cooking (not washing food thoroughly enough, mixing raw and cooked food, choosing the wrong temperature for cooking, frying or baking, etc.).
- consumption of raw water.
E. coli can and even should be passed from mother to newborn. This happens in the first day after the birth of the baby. If a woman has everything in order with her intestines, the child receives from her a “good” E. coli, which, populating the large intestine of the crumbs, does not let in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic microorganisms, for example, such as Klebsiella.
Bacteria Features
E. coli has a number of features that are beneficial to humans:
- synthesizes vitamin K, the sufficient content of which in the body ensures the correct flow of the blood coagulation process;
- inhibits the development of harmful bacteria in the intestines.
It is worth noting that these beneficial properties are realized only if the “good” stick lives in the intestinal tract. If it gets into other organs, inflammation develops in them. Most a prime example- this is an infection with E. coli of the genitourinary tract in women, leading to cystitis and vaginitis (inflammation of the bladder and vagina, respectively).
Characteristics of the microorganism
E. coli belongs to the Enterobacteria family, which also includes Klebsiella and a number of other microorganisms. Unlike many of its relatives, E. coli does not form spores, grows well on nutrient media, which makes it possible for bacteriologists to easily isolate it from human feces and study it in every possible way. high temperatures and disinfectant solutions adversely affect the microorganism in question.
Most non-pathogenic Escherichia Escherichia coli synthesize enzymes that decompose lactose, so they are called lactose-positive. If this property is not found, E. coli is considered to be lactose-negative.
Hemolytic (hemolytic) Escherichia coli - what is it? Some E. coli, in addition to enzymes, produce hemolysins (substances that destroy the blood). On nutrient media containing erythrocytes, such bacteria form colonies, around which zones of hemolysis gradually appear.
Kinds
Escherichia coli are:
- pathogenic;
- non-pathogenic (normal).
Pathogenic Escherichia coli is a microorganism that can start a pathological process when it enters the human intestine.
Types of pathogenic Escherichia coli:
- enterohemorrhagic - release toxic compounds that cause bloody diarrhea;
- enteropathogenic - I damage the intestinal microvilli, provoking a long-term disorder of the stool;
- enteroinvasive - are introduced into the surface epithelial cells of the intestinal wall, contributing to the development of a pronounced inflammatory process.
It should be noted that almost always pathogenic Escherichia coli in their properties are lactose-negative or hemolytic (hemolytic).
Diseases caused by E. coli
The disease provoked by E. coli is commonly called escherichiosis (you can also find the term "coli infection"). In most cases, it manifests itself as acute intestinal disorders. In children and debilitated adults, E. coli can also affect the genitourinary and nervous systems, causing the development of serious diseases:
- pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys);
- meningitis (inflammatory process in the meninges).
In the most severe cases E. coli penetrate through the damaged intestinal wall into the bloodstream. The body responds to this with a generalized inflammatory reaction, which is called sepsis.
Symptoms of E. coli infections
How does pathogenic Escherichia coli manifest itself? The symptoms of Escherichia coli are determined for the most part by what kind of pathogen the patient is infected with. So, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia provoke repeated diarrhea and the appearance of blood in the feces. Bloating, rumbling in the abdomen, chronic diarrhea are the result of infection with enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Enteroinvasive E. coli cause severe pain and profuse watery diarrhea.
In addition, the age of the patient affects the clinic of escherichiosis. In a child, as a rule, an intestinal infection is more severe.
In children
In infants, pathogenic E. coli is manifested by the following symptoms:
- colic - severe pain in the abdomen, which can be recognized by crying and constant anxiety of the baby;
- poor weight gain;
- frequent defecation;
- change in the smell of feces;
- impurity in the feces of blood;
- deterioration in appetite.
In an older child, "bad" E. coli causes severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, cramping abdominal pain, general weakness, nausea, headache. If the patient loses a lot of fluid with feces, dehydration also develops.
In men
In men, the colonization of the digestive tract with pathogenic Escherichia coli in most cases causes acute enteritis - by the type of poisoning. That is, there is vomiting, repeated diarrhea, abdominal pain, general intoxication and dehydration. It is also possible to synchronize pathological process. At the same time, these symptoms either appear or disappear on their own. If the infection enters reproductive organs, an inflammatory process may occur in the prostate and testes.
Among women
Symptoms of colon colonization with pathogenic Escherichia coli in women are similar to those in men. When the pathogen enters the hematogenous (through the blood) or ascending (through the external genitalia) routes into the internal genital organs, inflammation of the endometrium and uterine appendages is possible. This can affect a woman's ability to conceive.
In addition, non-observance of banal hygienic rules by the representatives of the weaker sex quite often leads to the spread of E. coli from the intestines to the vagina and urethra. In these organs, under its influence, acute, less often chronic inflammation develops.
coli in the blood
The penetration of any bacteria into the bloodstream is called bacteremia. If, against this background, a generalized inflammatory reaction occurs, they speak of sepsis - a severe, often fatal condition. Therefore, if E. coli is found in a person's blood, the patient is in serious danger. In such a situation, only highly qualified medical care can save the life of the patient.
E. coli in a smear
After receiving the results of a vaginal smear, some women find out that they have E. coli. What does it say? Firstly, about poor hygiene, secondly, about a chronic inflammatory process, and thirdly, about the oppression of the normal vaginal flora. In order to get rid of this problem once and for all, it is necessary to undergo the treatment prescribed by the gynecologist and learn how to properly care for the intimate area of the body: wash and wipe from front to back, do not wear synthetic underwear, give preference to panties or shorts.
Analyzes
If there is a suspicion of escherichiosis, the patient should pass feces for bacteriological examination. During this analysis, the doctor can detect lactose-negative and hemolytic E. coli. Subsequently, to determine their variety (serotype), special tests are carried out. In addition, all "suspicious" bacteria are tested for sensitivity to antibiotics. And this is extremely important for the appointment of effective antibacterial treatment.
Norm
Normally, pathogenic E. coli should not be present in the feces, even in a minimal amount. The list of "forbidden" bacteria also includes Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , salmonella - in the intestines healthy person not a place. The basis of the microflora of the digestive tract should be lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and normal E. coli.
Diagnosis of infections
Since E. coli is a bacterium, the main method for diagnosing coli infection is bacteriological (it is also called planting on the flora). Depending on where the E. coli was localized, the patient may be shown a study of feces (this analysis was discussed above), urine, vaginal discharge, prostate juice, blood, etc.
Treatment
Treatment of E. coli with pathogenic properties involves its complete elimination. Then the question is brewing - how can you kill E. coli? Here antibiotics and bacteriophages come to the aid of doctors.
Antibiotics
To find out which drugs will be effective against pathogenic E. coli, the patient is tested for the sensitivity of the isolated bacterium to antibiotics. If there is no time to wait for the result of this analysis, the doctor prescribes an antibacterial agent that acts on many microbes, for example, one of the cephalosporins or fluoroquinolones.
After a course of antibiotic therapy, patients are shown the restoration of intestinal biocenosis with special drugs called probiotics.
bacteriophages
A bacteriophage is a virus that kills bacteria, E. coli is also afraid of it. Therefore, if pathogenic E. coli is found in the patient's stool, the doctor may prescribe one of the following drugs:
- Bacteriophage if liquid.
- Intesti bacteriophage.
- Coliproteus bacteriophage
Features of the treatment of children
How to treat harmful E. coli in a child? If such a bacterium is found in children, the treatment will have its own characteristics:
- When pediatricians try to start the fight against Escherichia, not with strong antibacterial agents, but with bacteriophages and probiotics.
- Many antibiotics are absolutely contraindicated for babies, so doctors sometimes have to get out to help a small patient.
- Due to the rapid development of dehydration, with repeated diarrhea, children must undergo rehydration therapy.
In addition, it is very important that when infected with a pathogenic E. coli, the patient follows the prescribed diet, otherwise no medicine can help get rid of intestinal disorders.
Prevention
Prevention of diseases provoked by E. coli, is primarily in compliance with well-known hygiene rules. Equally important is the use of thoroughly washed vegetables and fruits, safe water and dishes prepared in accordance with technological standards.
In conclusion, it must be emphasized once again that both adults and children are at risk of infection with pathogenic coli. In both those and others, infection can provoke a very unpleasant pathological condition. But it is curable. The main thing is not to engage in amateur activities and not to drink. antibacterial drugs without a doctor's prescription.
Useful video about E. coli
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