infections
Escherichia coli Infections
Diagnosis ofE. coliInfections
Culture of samples of urine, stool, or other infected material Samples of blood, stool, urine, or other infected material are taken and sent to a laboratory to grow (culture) the bacteria. Identifying the bacteria in the sample confirms the diagnosis. IfE. coliO157:H7 is suspected, doctors do a stool test for Shiga toxins, which are produced by these bacteria. This test provides results quickly. If the bacteria are identified, they may be tested to see which antibiotics are effective (a process called Testing a Microorganism's Susceptibility and Sensitivity to Antimicrobial Drugs ). IfE. coliO157:H7 is detected, blood tests must be done frequently to check for hemolytic-uremic syndrome. 