What it means
A gram-negative bacterium that is part of the normal gut flora. Outside the intestine it causes infection: it is the most common cause of urinary tract infectionYUR-ih-nair-ee TRAKT in-FEK-shunAn infection anywhere in the urinary tract: the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.Full entry . Some strains, such as O157:H7, spread through undercooked beef, unwashed produce or contaminated water and cause bloody diarrhea; in children this can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a kind of kidney failure.
For the nurse
Teach good hand hygiene, wiping from front to back, cooking ground beef thoroughly and washing produce. Report bloody diarrhea, and in a child with recent diarrhea watch urine output.
At a glance
| Spanish | Escherichia coli |
|---|---|
| Also written | E. coli |
Related terms
urinary tract infection
An infection anywhere in the urinary tract: the kidneys, ureters, bladder or urethra.
diarrhea
Loose or watery stools, usually three or more times a day or more often than normal for the person.
bacterium
A tiny one-celled living thing, seen only under a microscope, of which some kinds cause disease; the plural is bacteria.
pathogen
A germ, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite, that can cause disease.