ENTEROBACTERIACEAE

ESCHERICHIA COLI
DR.RINA DAS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
MICROBIOLOGY,CNMC
 Specific learning objectives
• virulent factors of E.coli
• Enterotoxins and verotoxins of E. coli
• Difference between LT and ST
• UTI and lab diagnosis
• Significant bacteriurea and other lab methods
• Diarrhoea causing types and pathogenesis
• Diseases caused by E.coli
 ENTEROBACTERIACEAE (family)
General characteristics
• Gram negative bacilli
• Motile
• Grow in ordinary media
• Ferment glucose
• Reduce nitrate to nitrite
• Catalse positive
• Oxidase negative
 Contd.
• Found in the gut
• G†C -39-59%
Oldest method of classification
Lactose Fermenting
Non Lactose Fermenting
Late Lactose Fermenting
E.Coli is commensal of intestine but may be pathogen.
Salmonella and Shigella are always pathogen.
 Classification ENTEROBACTERIACEAE Classification by
Edwards and Ewing (newer method)

Tribe Genus

1. Escherichiae Escherichia ,Shigella

2.Edwardsielleae Edwardsiella

3.Salmonelleae Salmonella

4.Citrobactereae 4.Citrobacter
 Contd.
Tribe Genus

5.Klebsielleae Klebsiella,Enterobacter,Hafnia,
Serratia,Pantoea

6.Proteeae Proteus,Morganella,Provindencia

7.Yersinieae Yersinia

8.Erwinieae Erwinia
 ESCHERICHIA COLI
• First described by Escherich
• Most common aerobe in gut
• Thermo tolerant variant (survives at 44⁰C) is taken as
indicator of recent contamination of drinking water with feces

• Clinical manifestions:
• UTI (70-75% CASES)
• Diarrhoea
• Neonatal septicaemia, meningitis
• Pyogenic infections
 IDENTIFICATION
• Morphology:
gram negative,motile by peritrichus flagella(motility is called stately
motile).
• Culture:
facultative anaerobe, grows well at 37⁰C
In broth form uniform turbidity and heavy deposite
On MacConkey agar:form lactose fermenting pink colony
On Blood agar few strains show haemolysis
• Biochemical :
glucose, lactose, mannitol,maltose fermented with acid and gas
IMVIC(Indole, Methyl red, Voges Proskauer, Citrate):⁺⁺⁻⁻
H2S not produced, urea not hydrolysed, no growth on KCN
 VIRULENCE FACTORS
• Surface Antigens
Antigens (O Ag endotoxic and K1 Ag resembles gr B Ag of
meningococci)
CFA (colonisation factor antigen is expressed by ETEC)
Mannose resistance (seen on uropathogenic E.coli)
P fimbria (binds to P blood gr RBC and uroepithelium)
• Toxins
Enterotoxins(LT,ST,VT)
Haemolysins
CNF1
SAT(secretary auto transporter protein)
Siderophores
 UTI (Urinary tract infection)
• E.coli causes naturally acquired, community acquired,
nosocomial, asymptomatic as well as complicated types of
E.coli.
• Lower UTI is more common than upper UTI.
• Ascending type is more than descending type.
Specimen collection
Wet mount preparation of un spun urine to see puscells/HPF
Culture by quantitative and semi quantitative technique –
Significant bacteriuria (Kass criteria)
Antibiotic susceptibility test- to find out sensitive drugs
 Diarrhoeagenic E.coli
Escherichia coli Incubation period Signs and symptoms

Enterotoxigenic E.coli 24-72 hrs Watery diarrhoea

Traveller’s diarrhoea
Enteroinvasive E.coli 48-72 hrs Dysentery resembling
shigellosis
Enterohaemorrhagic E.coli 24-72 hrs Watery diarrhoea with
blood, haemorrhagic
collitis, HUS (haemolytic
ureamic syndrome

Enteroaggregative E.coli Slow onset Watery diarrhoea

Enteropathogenic E. coli Slow onset Watery diarrhoea in infants

Diffusely adeherent E.coli

Thank you