Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Clinical Microbiology Review 187
DISEASE GRAM STAIN
GROUP PATHOGENICITY TRANSMISSION MECHANISM OF STOOL OTHER
Enterohemorrhagic
(EHEC). Also known
as Shiga toxin–
producing (STEC)
or verotoxin-
producing (VTEC)
Enterotoxigenic
(ETEC)
Enteroinvasive
(EIEC)
E. coli O157:H7is most
common isolate of
group & pathogen
most often isolated
from bloody stools.
Non-O157 STEC also
causes disease. DNA
probes can ID genes
that code for toxins.
Report to public health.Profuse, watery stool.
DNA probes to detect
toxins or toxin genes.Undercooked
meat, raw milk,
apple ciderContaminated
food or waterContaminated
food or waterDiarrhea, hemorrhagic
colitis, hemolytic uremic
syndrome (HUS). Most
common cause of renal
failure in children in U.S.
May be fatal, especially
in young or elderlyTraveler’s diarrhea,
diarrhea in infantsBloody diarrhea.
Dysentery-like. Usually
in young children in
areas of poor sanitation.Toxins (vertox-
ins or Shiga
toxins)ToxinsInvasivenessRBCs but usually
no polysNo polys or RBCsPolys, RBCs, mucuscontinued...