Introduction
Escherichia coli refers to a type of bacteria that is permanently present in the human colon, the “colon”, even in healthy people. E. coli makes up less than 0.1 percent of the intestinal flora in a healthy body. In most cases, these bacteria do not cause disease.
However, there are individual subtypes of Escherichia coli, which can cause a variety of diseases inside and outside the intestine. These are called “pathogenic strains”. A frequent infection with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains occurs through fecally contaminated drinking water. The different bacterial strains attack the intestine in different ways and in most cases cause diarrhea, but can also cause urinary tract infections, wound infections, pneumonia, meningitis and life-threatening blood poisoning. Especially patients with a weak immune system and infants are a risk group for serious disease progression.
Escherichia coli in urine
If Escherichia coli bacteria are found in urine, this indicates an infection of the urinary tract. The mucous membrane of the bladder or urethra is usually affected. Less frequently affected are the ureter (ureter) and the renal pelvis, which would be called inflammation of the renal pelvis (pyelonephritis).
Three-quarters of all urinary tract infections are caused by Escherichia coli bacteria, and women and girls in particular are frequently affected due to the much shorter urethra. Coli bacteria have many possible origins and possibilities to colonize the urinary tract. Poor hygiene in the genital area, traffic or contact with fecal contaminated water (for example in public swimming pools) can cause the inflammation.
Women are particularly often affected because their urethra is particularly short in contrast to the male, making it much easier to get into the bladder. The symptoms are initially similar to a normal infection with fever and a general feeling of illness. In addition, there is flank pain (usually kidney pain), pain above the pubic bone and, above all, a burning sensation when urinating.
In rare cases, blood in the urine may occur. It is recommended that you drink a lot to flush out the pathogens and warm the affected area with a hot water bottle. If the symptoms do not improve on their own after a few days, a doctor must be consulted.
Some bacterial infections must be treated with antibiotics. The doctor will prescribe you a broad-spectrum antibiotic if he suspects a persistent urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia Coli. At the same time he will have a urine test performed.
Since the bacteria are also present in the urine in the case of a urinary tract infection, the doctor can use a urine sample to create a bacterial culture by allowing the bacteria present to grow in the otherwise very sterile urine. By adding various antibiotics, the laboratory physician can determine which antibiotic the bacteria are particularly sensitive to. This examination is called an “antibiogram”.
Since this process takes several days, the doctor may prescribe another, more effective antibiotic after a few days. As a precautionary measure, it is advisable to maintain special hygiene when going to the toilet, to urinate after sexual intercourse if possible and to use hygienic and fresh panty liners. If possible, the abdomen should not be hypothermic, as this weakens the immune system and allows infections.