infectious diseases
Infection by Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Other Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)
Diagnosis
Stool cultures Rapid stool assay for Shiga toxin E. coliO157:H7 and other STEC infections should be distinguished from other infectious diarrheas by isolating the organism from stool cultures. Culture of EHEC infections requires special media. Identifying the specific serotype helps identify the origin of an outbreak. Often, the clinician must specifically ask the laboratory to test for the organism. Because bloody diarrhea and severe abdominal pain without fever suggest various noninfectious etiologies, EHEC infection should be considered in suspected cases of Ischemic Colitis , Patients at risk of noninfectious diarrheas may need sigmoidoscopy. If done, sigmoidoscopy may reveal erythema and edema; barium enema or plain abdominal x-rays typically show evidence of edema with thumbprinting. 