Question about Ecoli?!?!?

Question

I have a question...what is some historical information about ecoli? What is ecoli's background? When was it first discovered?

Answer 1

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E. Coli or Escherichia Coli, a nasty little species of bacteria that lives in your lower gut, was first discovered in 1885 by a German doctor named Theodor Escherich who worked as a pediatrician and bacteriologist. The bacteria, which is typically passed on through infected feces and can cause a variety of severe infections, was actually named after Dr. Escherich in 1919.

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Answer 2

E. coli (Escherichia coli) is one of several types of bacteria that normally inhabit the intestine of humans and animals (commensal organism). Some strains of E. coli are capable of causing disease under certain conditions when the immune system is compromised or disease may result from an environmental exposure.

E. coli bacteria may give rise to infections in wounds, the urinary tract, biliary tract, and abdominal cavity (peritonitis). This organism may cause septicemia, neonatal meningitis, infantile gastroenteritis, tourist diarrhea, and hemorrhagic diarrhea. An E. coli infection may also arise due to environmental exposure. Infections with this type of bacteria pose a serious threat to public health with outbreaks arising from food and water that has been contaminated with human or animal feces or sewage. This type of bacteria has been used as a biological indicator for safety of drinking water since the 1890s. Exposure may also occur during hospitalization, resulting in pneumonia in immunocompromised patients or those on a ventilator....

The Discovery of E. coli Bacteria:
Escherichia coli bacteria (E. coli) were discovered in humans in 1885 by German bacteriologist Theodor Escherich. An 1886 monograph published by Escherich addressed the relationship of intestinal bacteria to the physiology of digestion in the infant. Originally called Bacterium coli, it was renamed Escherichia coli in honor of its discoverer. E. coli are among the most common intestinal bacteria and are normal within every mammal.

Kinds of E. coli Bacteria:
Though most E. coli bacteria are harmless, one hears about E. coli most often in news stories as a cause of food poisoning. Several specific types of E. coli can produce disease. E. coli belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family of bacteria, or enteric bacteria. Other enteric bacteria include the Salmonella and Shigella bacteria.

Answer 3

E. coli is short for the medical term Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of foodborne illness. Based on a 1999 estimate, 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur in the United States each year. In the ten CDC Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) sites (which represent 15% of the US population), there was a 29% decline in E. coli O157:H7 infection since 1996-98 (see FoodNet Reports).

Infection with E. coli often leads to bloody diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure. People can become infected with E.coli O157:H7 in a variety of ways. Though most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef, people have also become ill from eating contaminated bean sprouts or fresh leafy vegetables such as lettuce and spinach. Person-to-person contact in families and child care centers is also a known mode of transmission. In addition, infection can occur after drinking raw milk and after swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.

Consumers can prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection by thoroughly cooking ground beef, avoiding unpasteurized milk, and by washing hands carefully before preparing or eating food. Fruits and vegetables should be washed well, but washing may not remove all contamination. Public service announcements on television, radio, or in the newspapers will advise you which foods to avoid in the event of an outbreak.

Because the organism lives in the intestines of healthy cattle, preventive measures on cattle farms, during meat processing, and during the growth, harvest and processing of produce are being investigated.


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What is Escherichia coli O157:H7?

E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless, this strain produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness. E. coli O157:H7 has been found in the intestines of healthy cattle, deer, goats, and sheep.

E. coli O157:H7 was first recognized as a cause of illness in 1982 during an outbreak of severe bloody diarrhea; the outbreak was traced to contaminated hamburgers. Since then, more infections in the United States have been caused by eating undercooked ground beef than by any other food.

The combination of letters and numbers in the name of the bacterium refers to the specific markers found on its surface and distinguishes it from other types of E. coli.