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News: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found E. coli in drinking water samples from eight of 49 railway stations.
About E. coli Bacteria
- Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a rod-shaped bacterium belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family.
- Natural Habitat: It normally resides in the intestines of humans and animals and is also found in their faecal waste.
- Virulent Strains: Most strains are harmless, but some can cause serious illness.
- Some harmful strains produce Shiga toxins, which can damage the lining of the small intestine and cause diarrhoea.
- E. coli O157 is a commonly known strain linked to severe infections.
- Transmission: Infection can spread through contaminated water, contaminated or undercooked food, and shared objects or surfaces.
- Symptoms: E. coli infection can cause watery diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting and digestive issues.
- It can also cause urinary tract and wound infections.
- In rare cases, infection can lead to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure, particularly in children and the elderly.
- Treatment: E. coli infection is treatable with antibiotics.
- A sensitivity test can identify effective antibiotics, as some strains have developed antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
