ESCHERICHIA COLI Summary of the Body Systems Escherichia Coli May Infect or Inhabit. Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally inhabit the intestines of people and animals. Its second name, coli, means "from the colon", which is the organism's natural habitat. The type of E. Coli that lives in the gastrointestinal tract usually is not dangerous and helps in food digestion and protection from other harmful microbes. However, when certain strains of harmful Escherichia Coli are accidentally ingested through contaminated water or food, they can cause infection in the gastrointestinal tract by damaging the lining of the intestines. Also, when the Escherichia coli that usually inhabits the intestinal tract gets in places they are not supposed to be like the urinary tract or the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract an E. coli infection like a Urinary tract infection and pneumonia is caused there. (Centers for Disease Control, 2014). The pathogenic E. Coli strains outside the intestines can gain access to the main bloodstream through the urinary tract and cause infections like urinary tract infections (UTI), sepsis, and neonatal meningitis, bloodstream infections, prostatitis (prostate infection), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), peritonitis, wound infections and gallbladder infection (cholecystitis) (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Escherichia Coli Conditions In order of Severity E. Coli outside of the intestines, as a result of its translocation into other parts of the body can cause systemic infections including meningitis, pneumonia and sepsis which can be totally life threatening. The Shiga toxin-producing" E. coli also known as STEC is the most common cause of severe disease outbreaks, in humans by producing toxins that can severely damage the lining of
your intestines and kidneys causing bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure, which sometimes is fatal. Other infections like gastrointestinal infections and urinary tract infections can be mild (Daga et al.,2019). Factors Affecting Severity Of E. Coli Infections Severity of the infections depends on factors such as the strain's virulence, an individual's immune system, any underlying health conditions, age of the individual, season of the infection, stomach acid levels, whereby if there are low acid levels, there is a high chance for severity of the E. Coli, and lastly certain foods like unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat can all contribute to the severity of infection. Yes, the particular serotype or other characteristics of the organism play a role in the severity of infection. For example, most strains cause similar symptoms, like watery diarrhea, but some are more serious than others like the STEC and ETEC strains where STEC is more serious (Daga et al., 2019). Differences In The severity of the Infections Between the Body Systems Condition Systemic infections Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Urinary Tract Severity Very severe and life threatening Very severe and fatal Mild to severe Symptoms Low blood pressure, fever, chills, tachycardia Bloody diarrhea Abdominal pain/cramps Kidney complications Painful urination Complications Sepsis Organ failure Death Kidney infections
Infections Gastrointestinal infections (Dagga et al., 2019). Mild to moderate Fever, blood in urine Diarrhea,