E. coli infection can act like ‘acid on the intestinal wall,’ expert says
Global News
A recent E. coli outbreak in multiple daycare centres across Calgary has led to more than a dozen children hospitalized, with some requiring dialysis.
E. coli infections like the one that has sickened hundreds of children in daycare centres across Calgary are so brutal because the bacteria can act “like acid” on the wall of people’s intestines, a doctor says.
The recent outbreak has led to more than a dozen children hospitalized, with some requiring dialysis. Hundreds of others have fallen ill following exposure to this potentially life-threatening bacteria.
The bacteria, known as a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, can cause kidney failure, bloody diarrhea, blood clots and even death, explained Dr. Iris Gorfinkel, a family physician based in Toronto.
“Most E. coli is not a concerning disease — we carry E. coli in our intestines — but the problem is the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. This is different,” Gorfinkel told Global News’ The Morning Show on Tuesday.
“So if a person ingests as few as 10 of these bacteria, it produces a toxin in the intestine that works like acid on the intestinal wall. It causes initially watery diarrhea, but then because it’s like acid on the wall, it causes bloody diarrhea, and boy does it hurt, a lot of cramping.”
The outbreak in Calgary daycares was first reported on Sept. 4, and since then there have been 329 lab-confirmed cases of bacterial infection related to it. Thirteen children are still in hospital, 11 of whom have hemolytic uremic syndrome — a complication affecting the blood and kidneys. Six of those children are receiving dialysis.
A report released by Alberta Health Services earlier this week said inspectors found improper sanitation, live cockroaches and issues around food handling in a central kitchen for the daycares.
Investigators are still looking for the source of the outbreak.
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