Enteroinvasive E. Coli
(EIEC)
What is E. coli?
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria that normally
lives in the intestines of people (and animals). It can
also live elsewhere. Most strains of E coli are quite
harmless. They are simply part of the normal intestinal
flora. However, there are some kinds of E. coli that are
capable of causing disease when within the colon.
Which kinds of E. coli can cause disease?
There are five unique classes of E. coli that can cause
inflammation of the stomach and bowels (gastroenteritis)
and are, therefore, termed enterovirulent. They are
virulent (extremely noxious) for the intestine (or, in
Greek, the enteron).
Collectively, these five classes of enterovirulent E.
coli are referred to as the EEC group (enterovirulent E.
coli). Each class of EEC is distinct and different from the
others. They are the:
- Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) invades (passes into)
the intestinal wall to produce severe diarrhea.
- Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): A type of EHEC,
E.coli 0157:H7, can cause bloody diarrhea and the hemolytic uremic syndrome
(anemia and kidney failure).
- Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) produces a toxin that
acts on the intestinal lining, and is the most common cause of travelers
diarrhea.
- Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) can causes diarrhea
outbreaks in newborn nurseries.
- Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC) can cause acute
and chronic (long lasting) diarrhea in children.
In whom does EIEC cause disease?
Although EIEC can cause disease in people of any age
around the world, it severely strikes the very young and
old and is most common in the developing world.
What does it take to be infected?
Studies indicate that a relatively large dose (100
million to 10 billion bacteria) is probably necessary to
establish a colony of these bacteria in an adult. Infants
may require fewer numbers of organisms for infection to be
established.
Next: What does EIEC do after entering the bowels? »
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