Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli or E. coli is a bacterium that lives in the intestines of people and other warm-blooded animals. Scientists have studied E. coli a lot, and know more about how E. coli cells work than any other organism. E. coli is usually not harmful. In fact, the only known harmful strain is O156. E.coli is a prokaryotic organism.

Escherichia coli
Scientific classification
Superdomain:	Phylogenetica
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Proteobacteria
Class:	Gamma Proteobacteria
Order:	Enterobacteriales
Family:	Enterobacteriaceae
Genus:	Escherichia
Species:	E. coli
Binomial name
Escherichia coli (Migula 1895) Castellani and Chalmers 1919

E. coli normally grow in soil and in the large intestines of many mammals, including humans. Most strains of E. coli do not cause disease, but instead help animals get vitamins and digest food. Some strains of E. coli cause sickness in people. E. coli are not usually in food or water. When food has not been prepared with clean equipment, E. coli can grow in the food. When E. coli are found in water, this may mean that the water has touched sewage.

It is named after Theodor Escherich, who discovered it in 1885. It was officially named after him in 1919.

Signs and symptoms of E. coli infection

The following signs and symptoms of an E. coli infection normally happen within three days; however, some people may carry the infection and show no signs at all.

• Pain in the abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Fatigue

The best treatment for E. coli is plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.