Escherichia coli is the most encountered bacteria in clinical laboratories. It is a Gram-negative bacteria, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. The infection is acquired by eating food containing the bacteria and can also be associated with undercooked beef, water, raw milk, unpasteurised apple juice, lettuce, handling potatoes, yogurt, alfalfa sprouts, etc. Children under 5 years of age, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are at particular risk. Serious complications called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) occur in 0 to 15% of cases. Most people with HUS recover completely, but it can be fatal in about 3-5% of the cases. Symptoms include acute bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps with little fever. The illness is often misdiagnosed, and expensive diagnostic procedures may be performed. There is no evidence that antibiotics improve the course of disease and it has been shown that treatments with some antibiotics may precipitate kidney complications. Antidiarrhoeal agents should also be avoided. It is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. About 10,000 to 20,000 people in the United States are annually affected, including 500 deaths.

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