Diagnosis
To diagnose illness caused by E. coli infection, your doctor sends a sample of your stool to a laboratory to test for the presence of E. coli bacteria. The bacteria may be cultured to confirm the diagnosis and identify specific toxins, such as those produced by E. coli O157:H7.
Treatment
For illness caused by E. coli, no current treatments can cure the infection, relieve symptoms or prevent complications. For most people, treatment includes:
- Rest
- Fluids to help prevent dehydration and fatigue
Avoid taking an anti-diarrheal medication — this slows your digestive system down, preventing your body from getting rid of the toxins. Antibiotics generally aren't recommended because they can increase the risk of serious complications and they don't appear to help treat the infection.
If you have a serious E. coli infection that has caused a life-threatening form of kidney failure (hemolytic uremic syndrome), you'll be hospitalized. Treatment includes IV fluids, blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.
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Lifestyle and home remedies
Follow these tips to prevent dehydration and reduce symptoms while you recover:
- Drink clear liquids. Drink plenty of clear liquids, including water, clear sodas and broths, gelatin, and juices. Avoid apple and pear juices, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Avoid certain foods. Dairy products, fatty foods, high-fiber foods or highly seasoned foods can make symptoms worse.
- Eat meals. When you start feeling better, you can return to your normal diet.
Preparing for your appointment
Most people don't seek medical attention for E. coli infections. If your symptoms are particularly severe, you may want to visit your primary care doctor or seek immediate care.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Write down key personal information, including any recent life changes or international travel.
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you're taking.
- Ask a family member or friend to come with you, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor.
For an E. coli infection, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
- What kinds of tests do I need?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- Will there be any lasting effects from this illness?
- How can I prevent this from happening again?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor may ask:
- When did your symptoms begin?
- How often are you having diarrhea?
- Are you vomiting? If so, how often?
- Does your vomit or diarrhea contain bile, mucus or blood?
- Have you had a fever? If so, how high?
- Are you also having abdominal cramps?
- Have you recently traveled outside the country?
- Does anyone else in your household have the same symptoms?
What you can do in the meantime
If you or your child has an E. coli infection, it may be tempting to use an anti-diarrheal medication, but don't. Diarrhea is one way the body rids itself of toxins. Preventing diarrhea slows that process down.
Take small sips of fluid as tolerated to try to stay hydrated.
Oct. 01, 2022
FAQs
To diagnose illness caused by E. coli infection, your doctor sends a sample of your stool to a laboratory to test for the presence of E. coli bacteria. The bacteria may be cultured to confirm the diagnosis and identify specific toxins, such as those produced by E. coli O157:H7.
What is the best treatment for coli? ›
For E coli intra-abdominal abscess, antibiotics must include anaerobic coverage (eg, ampicillin/sulbactam or metronidazole). In severe infection, piperacillin/tazobactam, ertapenem, or meropenem may be used.
How do you flush E. coli out of your system? ›
Treating E. Coli–Related Traveler's Diarrhea
- Stay hydrated. Consume plenty of fluids.
- Take antidiarrheal drugs. Use medication such as loperamide (Imodium), though people who have a fever or bloody stools should not take these, nor should children younger than 2 years.
- Ask if you need antibiotics.
There is no specific treatment for E. coli O157 infection. People who are infected can usually be cared for at home and most will get better without medical treatment. It's important to drink plenty of fluids, as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration.
Can you recover from E. coli without antibiotics? ›
They also are sometimes used to treat people at risk for severe illness. But the good news is that most people with E. coli infection recover without needing to take antibiotics.
How long does it take to recover from E. coli? ›
Mild E. coli gastroenteritis and some UTIs caused by E. coli can go away on their own. Recovery can take about a week without any treatment. But you should always check with a provider if you have severe or long-lasting diarrhea, abdominal pain, pain when you pee, or are peeing very little.
What probiotic kills E. coli? ›
rhamnosus GR-1 can kill E. coli and can disrupt biofilms produced by these microbes (McMillan et al., 2011). Moreover, this strain can modulate aspects of host immunity, including NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (Kim et al., 2006; Karlsson et al., 2012).
What are three severe symptoms of E. coli? ›
Most types of E. coli are harmless or cause relatively brief diarrhea. But a few strains, such as E. coli O157:H7, can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
What happens if E. coli goes untreated? ›
About 5-10% of people infected with E. coli develop a life-threatening condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). These symptoms can show up about one week after initial symptoms. Children under age 5 and adults over age 65, as well as those with compromised immune systems, are most at risk for HUS.
Is yogurt good for E. coli? ›
The acidity of yogurt is another barrier to foodborne illness. There is evidence of E. coli 0157:H7 exhibiting acid-tolerant properties, but this pathogen is readily destroyed via pasteurization.
Coli Can Spread From Person to Person. A person with a gastrointestinal-related E. coli infection is also contagious if the bacteria can be found in their stool. But their infection is only transmissible by passing traces of their stool on to another.
How did I get E. coli in my urinary tract? ›
Sexual Contact A woman's urethra is located next to the vagin* and anus. This design makes it very easy for bacteria to move into the urinary tract during sexual intercourse and sexual contact. Improper Wiping For women, wiping from back to front after a bowel movement can drag E. coli directly into the urethra.
How do they test for E. coli? ›
First, a water sample is added to test tubes containing bacteria growth media and incubated for 24-48 hrs. Tubes that are positive for the production of acid and/or gas are then added into a series of tubes with media containing MUG. After 24 hours, the tubes are examined for fluorescence.
How do you know if you have E. coli in your system? ›
Signs and symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infection usually begin three or four days after exposure to the bacteria. But you may become ill as soon as one day after exposure to more than a week later. Signs and symptoms include: Diarrhea, which may range from mild and watery to severe and bloody.
What antibiotic kills E. coli? ›
While most intestinal E. coli infections pass within a week, cases of pneumonia, meningitis, or urinary tract infections from the pathogen are typically treated with an antibiotic such as a third-generation cephalosporin.
What happens if you test positive for E. coli? ›
Some E. coli bacteria can cause serious illness. Some cause no illness at all. The bacteria can cause diarrhoea and food poisoning, or more serious illnesses like pneumonia.
