E. coli are benign, but some can cause severe illness, including stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. The bacteria can spread via contaminated food and water or through contact with an animal or person who has the infection.
Other strains can cause urinary tract infections, respiratory illness, and pneumonia.Some of the most dangerous E. coli strains produce a toxin called Shiga.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that these strains are responsible for 265,000 infections annually.
They note that a strain called E. coli O157 causes about 36% of these infections. E. coli O157 can infect people of all ages, but infections can be particularly severe, and even fatal, in younger children.Antibio.