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E. coli Everywhere!

© Neal Rolfe Chamberlain

In the past two weeks Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections have once again made the news. Two very different diseases caused by E. coli have once again raised their nasty heads. CNN reported (June 23, 1998) an outbreak of one type of E. coli that possibly came from a potatoe salad. Over 4,500 people have reported having cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.

This type or strain of E. coli produces two proteins called toxins that cause the intestines to lose water and salts. Hence the name Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC; Entero= gut, Toxigenic= toxin producing, E. coli).  The two toxins are called Labile Toxin (LT; heat sensitive) and Stable Toxin (ST; heat stable). Another name for this type of E. coli infection is Traveler's diarrhea. Most people will clear this infection without any problems. In a week or two people are pretty much back to normal.

The other E. coli infection was reported in kids from 3 different states (United States). They had acquired a different E. coli disease after going to a water park in Georgia (United States). Apparently, a little one didn't make it to the bathroom in time. The fecal material contaminated the pool and caused other kids to get sick. The pool was properly treated with chlorine however it does take some time for the chlorine to kill all those organisms in the fecal material. In the mean time 8 children got infected with E. coli O157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 is the strain of E. coli that caused so many people to get really ill from eating undercooked hamburgers from a fast food chain about 5 years ago.

This second strain of E. coli O157:H7 causes the person to also have cramps, nausea, and diarrhea. However, in a day or two this diarrhea will also contain blood. Sometimes the person will also have a fever. The person may also complain of severe abdominal (belly) pain. One serious complication of this infection is called Human Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS only occurs in 8 to 11 percent of those that are infected with E. coli O157:H7. Damage to the kidney by the bacteria's toxin is believed to be the cause of HUS. People will have a low platelet (the cells that help your blood to clot) count, a high white blood cell count, and be anemic. This disease normally only affects children and the elderly.

E. coli O157:H7 produces a different toxin than the E. coli mentioned above. It produces a toxin called Vero toxin. It is called this because the toxin will cause Vero cells (a particular kind of cell that grows in a test tube) to round up and look sick. This Vero toxin causes

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