Group of gram-negative bacteria (most common being the escherichia coli or E. coli which can grow at elevated temperatures) which can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35–37°C .found in the intestinal tract (therefore in the feces) of humans and other animals. These rod-shaped microorganisms aid in digestion and are largely harmless. If ingested through contaminated food or water, however, they may cause bacterial or viral gastroenteritis, Hepatitis A, typhoid fever,
and assoTypical genera include:
E.COLI
E. coli are a large and diverse group of bacteria.
Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others
can make people sick. Some kinds of E. coli cause
disease by making a toxin called Shiga toxin. The
bacteria that make these toxins are called “Shiga
toxin-producing E. coli”, or STEC for short. STEC
bacteria live in the intestines of many animals and
are usually transmitted to people when they eat
foods contaminated with the bacteria.
It can also cause life-threatening symptoms such as:
Adult kidney failure
Fever
Bleeding
Confusion
Seizures