Escherichia Coli O157:H7

Escherichia Coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an enterohemorrhagic strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli and a cause of foodborne illness. Infection often leads to hemorrhagic diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure, especially in young children and elderly persons.

Transmission is via the fecal-oral route, and most illness has been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef or ground pork, swimming in or drinking contaminated water, or eating contaminated vegetables.