What is E. coli?
E. coli is the abbreviated name of the bacterium in the family Enterobacteriaceae named Escherichia coli. The name "E. coli" encompasses a wide range of bacteria, some of which help us and some of which hurt us. Approximately 0.1% of the total bacteria within an adult’s intestines is represented by E. coli. The presence of E. coli and other bacteria within our intestines is necessary for us to develop and operate properly.
E. coli we acquire from our surroundings can sometimes be harmful to us. The majority of E. coli associated illnesses are acquired by eating contaminated food, but contaminated drinking water or water swallowed while swimming is another source.
The presence of E. coli in swimming areas means that other disease-causing microorganisms may be present as well. What makes people sick is often these other organisms, not E. coli itself. Health symptoms linked to swallowing water contaminated with bacteria range from no ill effects to cramps and diarrhea (gastrointestinal distress). Two common waterborne diseases are giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis; both cause intestinal illness. The E. coli variant known as 0157:H7, made famous in several meat contamination cases, has also been associated with drinking contaminated water and can cause severe intestinal illness. In very rare cases, it can cause severe kidney problems (such as hemolytic uremic syndrome).
