Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli enteritis

Infection with Shiga toxin–producing strains of Escherichia coli (STEC), for example 0157:H7 or 0111:H8, may cause bloody diarrhoea and lead to the development of haemolytic uraemic syndrome or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, particularly in children.

The mainstay of therapy for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli enteritis is rehydration.

Do not give antibiotic therapy for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli to patients, particularly children, who do not have sepsis, because antibiotics increase toxin release and therefore the risk of developing haemolytic uraemic syndromeShane, 2017Tarr, 2022.

Note: Do not give antibiotic therapy to patients, particularly children, with enterohaemorrhagic E. coli who do not have sepsis.

Stop empirical antibiotics for acute infectious diarrhoea in patients who have confirmed enterohaemorrhagic E. coli. Antibiotics required for other reasons should be reviewed and continued if indicated.