Escherichia coli as a Global Pathogen

Abstract

Escherichia coli are Gram-negative bacilli belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, which normally resides in the intestine of warm-blooded animals, including humans. It has also been used as an indicator of faecal contamination to assess the safety and quality of water. Nevertheless, it is the most widespread pathogen that causes various infections around the world with serious morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. There are six strains of Escherichia coli; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC), Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and Diffusely adherent Escherichia coli (DAEC),and they have been implicated in various blood stream infection, Haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), diarrhoea, meningitis, urinary tract infection and various food infections. However, the clinical importance of Escherichia coli cannot be over emphasized, therefore, the general populace should ensure adequate safety in all the food consumed either as a ready to eat or cooked food. The need to avoid half-done meat and unsafe drinking water is key to the prevention of this global pathogen.