E. coli in urine - normal or infection? Escherichia coli in urine and bladder, treatment

The presence of E. coli in the body is normal phenomenon, if it is present in the intestines. This microorganism creates normal microflora in the intestines, it participates in the digestive process, helps to produce vitamin K, and suppresses the proliferation of certain types of pathogenic bacteria. E. coli in urine - is it dangerous? If a urine test reveals coli, this may indicate:

Why is E. coli in urine dangerous?

When E. coli enters another environment in the body from the intestines, it can cause the development of many dangerous diseases, including cystitis, acute intestinal disorders, pyelonephritis, urethritis, vulvovaginitis, etc. In this regard, a person must make sure that the analysis was collected correctly.
If urine for analysis was collected according to all the rules, then you should definitely consult a doctor, since when it gets into the urinary tract, the development of the inflammatory process begins. When penetrating the urinary tract, E. coli is not removed along with urine; it penetrates into the bladder, where it provokes inflammation. Considering physiological characteristics, children and women are more likely to experience this type of disease. In children, susceptibility to the disease is associated with fragile immunity and inability to resist harmful microorganisms. For women, the relevance of this disease is explained by the special anatomical structure excretory organs.
In addition to the development of cystitis, E. coli has an inhibitory effect on immune system, she is created favorable conditions, contributing to the development of more dangerous infectious diseases (gonorrhea, urethra, chlamydia).
Often the action of E. coli occurs together with other pathogenic microbes, for example, Proteus, staphylococcus.

How to get tested correctly

Sample collection for bacterial culture must be carried out using a catheter, since after a bowel movement, E. coli can settle on the skin of the perineum and enter the sample, as a result of which the result will be distorted.

Only the middle portion of urine should be included in the analysis.

E. coli in urine treatment

If E. coli in the urine does not cause any pathological changes, the person does not feel any alarming symptoms, then there is a high probability that there is no need for special treatment for him. The exception is pregnant women, as well as people who are preparing for pelvic surgery. In such situations, it is necessary to destroy any source of infection, since it may subsequently pose a danger to your health. In this case, antibiotics, uroseptics and biologically active additives are used, aimed at maintaining human immunity. In addition, they prevent infection from developing. Traditional medicine can also be used for treatment, for example, it is recommended to consume 0.5 g of mumiyo 3 times a day before meals for a month. After which you should take a break for 5 days and repeat the treatment.

The presence of E. coli in the body is considered a completely natural phenomenon, but only if it is in the intestines. This bacterium creates optimal microflora there, participates in the digestion process, promotes the production of vitamin K and suppresses the proliferation of certain pathogens. Is it normal for E. coli to be found in the urine? Let's talk about this in the article.

Possible danger

When a rod-shaped bacterium penetrates outside the intestine, it can provoke the development of many dangerous pathologies, including pyelonephritis, cystitis, vulvovaginitis, acute intestinal disorders, urethritis, etc. If E. coli is detected in the urine, you need to make sure that the material for analysis was collected correctly. Only the middle portion of urine should be provided for testing. Moreover, its collection should be carried out using a catheter, since after bowel movement, E. coli can settle on skin in the perineal area and get into the sample from there, which will lead to distorted results. If the study was carried out in accordance with all standards, and the bacterium is actually present in the urine, you should immediately consult a doctor, because such a condition is fraught with inflammation in the bladder. Most often, E. coli entering the urinary tract leads to the appearance of cystitis. It is often diagnosed in children and women. Children are susceptible to development pathological condition due to the still fragile immune system, and therefore the body’s inability to resist harmful microorganisms. For women, the relevance of the disease can be explained by their special anatomical structure of the excretory system.

E. coli found in urine may also indicate the presence of dangerous infectious diseases, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc. In general, the bacterium, once in the urinary tract, begins to have a depressing effect on the immune system and can interact with other pathogens (staphylococcus, Proteus and etc.).

E. coli in urine during pregnancy

This phenomenon can be observed quite often, because hormonal changes create favorable conditions for microorganisms. If E. coli is detected in the urine, there is a risk of developing inflammation urinary tract at expectant mother. This, in turn, can lead to premature birth, placental insufficiency, chorioamnionitis, and premature release of amniotic fluid.

E. coli in urine: treatment

If, when a rod-shaped bacterium enters the urinary tract, it does not cause any pathological changes and, accordingly, does not lead to the appearance unpleasant symptoms in humans, no special treatment is required. The only exceptions are pregnant women and those people who are undergoing surgery on the pelvic organs. They need to destroy the source of infection to prevent possible danger for good health. This is achieved by taking antibacterial medications, uroseptics, and dietary supplements in order to strengthen the immune system and prevent the spread of infection. ethnoscience recommends using mumiyo for a month three times a day, 0.5 grams.

Escherichia coli (or rather, the bacterium Escherichia Coli) is always present in the human body, living in lower sections intestines.

In this environment, its harmless strains are representatives normal microflora, participating in the process of digestion and the formation of vitamin K. Excessive reproduction in the intestines of E. Coli is inhibited by lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. If the balance between representatives of the microflora is not disturbed, the intestines function normally.

But if E. coli enters an environment where there is nutrients and there are no natural competitors, it is capable of developing rapidly and uncontrollably.

E. coli can settle in the human urinary system and cause inflammatory processes. So, cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) infectious etiology in most cases (up to 95%) causes namely E. coli.

How does E. coli get into the urinary tract?

First of all, from the rectum due to insufficient hygiene or improper washing from back to front. This is the most frequent path infection in girls and women, which is facilitated by the proximity of the sphincter anus and the openings of the urethra, the short urethra. This circumstance explains the high prevalence of infectious cystitis caused by E.Coli in girls and women.
E. coli lives not only in the human intestines, but also in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and birds. It can remain viable for a long time environment, including in soil and water bodies, being an indicator of their fecal contamination. So swimming in a dirty pond or touching the genitals with hands contaminated with soil or manure can also be a source of infection.
Infection is almost inevitable urethra in men who practice unprotected anal sex; the next stage - the man enterscoli in the partner's vagina, where the bacteria multiplies and spreads into the nearby urethra.

Predisposing factors for the presence of bacteria

Once in the urinary tract, the bacterium does not necessarily gain a foothold there. It is washed off with a stream of urine (which has some bactericidal properties). But in the presence of predisposing factors, the bacterium can settle in the mucous membrane of the urethra and enter through the ascending routeV bladder . Such factors may be:

stagnation of urine associated with urolithiasis;
stagnation of urine caused by prostate adenoma (in men);
rare emptying of the bladder, when a person is unable to go to the toilet on time;
compression of the bladder in pregnant women;
change chemical composition and acidic - alkaline balance urine in case of kidney disease and diabetes;
infection urinary tract other microorganisms (including sexually transmitted ones), which reduces natural protective properties mucous membrane;
damage to the cells of the mucous membrane of the urethra and bladder during chemotherapy for cancer (cytostatics suppress the renewal of the epithelium of all mucous membranes of the body);
degenerative changes in the mucous membrane of the bladder as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation at radiation therapy cancer of nearby organs;
immunodeficiency conditions caused by other diseases, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency;
decline local immunity with local hypothermia.

It should be noted that with good immunity, E. coli can live in the urinary system for some time without causing symptoms of inflammation. The E.Coli bacterium is often found in urine when analyzed (although normally it should not be there).

In the absence of symptoms of inflammation and if the number of sticks does not exceed 10 5 in 1 ml of urine, no special treatment is carried out. In this case, it is also impossible to exclude incorrect collection of urine for analysis.

But if the patient asked for medical care due to symptoms of cystitis ( frequent urge to urination, pain during and after urination, constant nagging pain in the suprapubic region, the appearance of blood or mucus in the urine), E.Coli concentration more than 10 2 in ml of urine most likely suggests that inflammation provoked precisely coli.

How to get rid of E. coli in the bladder

If a small concentration of E. coli is present in bladder without causing inflammation, a person most likely will not know about it. In most cases it's about how cure cystitis caused by bacterium Escherichia Coli.

Treatment cystitis caused by reproductioncoli in the bladder,usually involves taking antibiotics. It should be noted that E. coli easily forms new strains, including those resistant to previously successfully used antibiotics. Usually the doctor prescribes an antibiotic wide range empirically, but if treatment does not give the expected effect, it should be adjusted taking into account the antibiogram - a bacterial culture test of urine to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to different antibiotics. Currently, Monural (Fosfomycin), fluoroquinolones (norfloxacin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin), aminoglycosides (gentamicin), nitrofuran derivatives (nifuratel, furazolidone), penicillins (amoxicillin) are considered relevant. All antibiotics have side effects and contraindications, therefore the choice of antibiotic and its dosage is determined by the doctor. Antibiotics are prescribed with extreme caution to children, pregnant women and breastfeeding.

Acute cystitis can usually be cured with a short course of antibiotics. Chronic cystitis requires long-term use antibiotics, which in this case affect not only the E. coli in the bladder, but also the E. coli that lives in the lower intestines and is a representative of the normal intestinal microflora. To avoid intestinal dysbiosis, probiotics are prescribed: Hilak Forte, Bificol, Colibacterin, containing specially selected strains of E.Coli.

For cystitis, it is important to drink a lot - compotes, fruit drinks, decoctions medicinal herbs(bearberry, lingonberry leaf, rose hips, St. John's wort). During illness, salty, spicy foods, smoked foods should be excluded from the diet, and alcohol should not be consumed.

Prevention

Prevention of infection of the urethra and the introduction of E. coli into the bladder is primarily through strict adherence to personal hygiene. It is advisable for women and girls to wash the rectal sphincter area after each bowel movement, washing correctly (from front to back). If there is insufficient anal hygiene, wearing thongs can also contribute to the introduction of E. coli into the genital area.

Unprotected anal sex is unacceptable - E. coli is perhaps the most innocent microorganism that can easily be infected in this way.

You should avoid hypothermia, including local hypothermia of the pelvic area, do not sit on cold surfaces, and wear warm trousers or tights in cold weather.

It is important to visit the toilet on time, avoiding stagnation of urine.

If signs of cystitis appear, you must consult a doctor and do not self-medicate, which in most cases leads to acute form cystitis to chronic.

Escherichia coli (lat. Escherichia coli, E. coli, named after Theodore Escherich) is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium, widely found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms.
Symptoms of E. coli. Food poisoning caused by certain strains of E. coli are dangerous due to the toxins they produce. Symptoms of infection include cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea, often with blood. In the absence of any symptoms, true bacteriuria (urinary tract infection) is diagnosed if at least 105 microbial bodies of E. coli are present.

Escherichia coli (Escherichia coli, lat. escherichia coli; common abbreviation E. coli) - a type of gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria, part of the normal microflora gastrointestinal tract person.

Escherichia coli species ( e. coli) is included in the genus Escherichia (lat. escherichia), family of enterobacteria (lat. enterobacteriaceae), order Enterobacteriaceae (lat. enterobacteriales), class Gammaproteobacteria (lat. γ proteobacteria), type of proteobacteria (lat. proteobacteria), kingdom of bacteria.

Exists big number varieties of Escherichia coli ( escherichia coli), including more than 100 pathogenic (“enterovirulent”) types, grouped into four classes: enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive and enterohemorrhagic. There are no morphological differences between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Escherichia.

Symptoms and signs of E. coli infection

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infection usually begins acutely with cramping abdominal pain and watery diarrhea, which may be accompanied by copious amounts of blood within 24 hours. Some patients describe the diarrhea as blood without stool, giving rise to the term hemorrhagic colitis. Fever is usually absent or mild. Sometimes body temperature can spontaneously rise to 39 °C. For uncomplicated infections, diarrhea may last 1-8 days.

In approximately 5% of cases (mainly in children under 5 years of age and adults over 60 years of age), a complication such as hemolytic uremic syndrome occurs, which in typical cases occurs in the 2nd week of the disease. It can happen with or without this complication. death, especially in older people.

E. coli in urine during pregnancy

E. coli is found quite often in urine during pregnancy. Therefore, E. coli becomes a complete surprise for a pregnant woman. This usually happens when urine tests show inflammation occurring internally. If Escherichia coli is found in the urine culture in a concentration greater than the permissible one. This means that the concentration of bacteria exceeds permissible norm. Even if there are no symptoms now, a urinary tract infection may develop. It has been established that in the presence of a urinary tract infection, the risk of premature birth, placental insufficiency, premature rupture of amniotic fluid, and chorioamnionitis increases. The birth of premature or functionally immature children occurs, as well as newborns with intrauterine growth retardation and signs of intrauterine infection, one of the reasons for the birth of children with birth defects development, mental retardation and childhood cerebral palsy.

E. coli. General information

E. coli ( escherichia coli) are stable in external environment, long time persist in soil, water, feces. They tolerate drying well. Escherichia coli have the ability to reproduce in food products, especially in milk. They quickly die when boiled and exposed to disinfectants (bleach, formaldehyde, phenol, sublimate, caustic soda, etc.). E. coli are more stable in the external environment compared to other enterobacteria. Direct sunlight kills them within a few minutes, a temperature of 60°C and a 1% carbolic acid solution kills them within 15 minutes.

Some E. coli have flagella and are motile. Other E. coli lack flagella and the ability to move.

Escherichia coli in human intestines and feces

Number of coliforms escherichia coli among other representatives of the intestinal microflora does not exceed 1%, but they play a vital role in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. E. coli e coli are the main competitors of opportunistic microflora in terms of colonization of the intestines. E. coli e coli They take oxygen from the intestinal lumen, which is harmful to bifidobacteria and lactobacilli that are beneficial to humans. E. coli e coli produce a number of vitamins necessary for humans: B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12, K, participates in the metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin, choline, bile and fatty acids, affects the absorption of iron and calcium.

Escherichia coli in the human intestine appear in the first days after birth and remain throughout life at a level of 10 6 -10 8 CFU/g of colon contents. In feces healthy person E. coli (typical) are detected in an amount of 10 7 -10 8 CFU/g, while the number of lactose-negative E. coli should not exceed 10 5 CFU/g, and hemolytic E. coli should be absent.

Deviations from the specified values are a sign of dysbacteriosis:

a decrease in typical Escherichia coli to 10 5 -10 6 CFU/g, or an increase in the content of typical Escherichia to 10 9 -10 10 CFU/g is defined as the first degree of microbiological disorders
an increase in the concentration of hemolytic Escherichia coli to 10 5 -10 7 CFU/g is defined as the second degree of microbiological disorders

In case of excessive growth of E. coli, children are recommended to take bacteriophages (depending on the type of E. coli): bacteriophage coli liquid, bacteriophage coliproteus liquid, pyobacteriophage combined liquid, pyopolyphage in tablets, pyobacteriophage polyvalent purified liquid or intesti-bacteriophage liquid.

With excessive growth of E. coli, as a consequence of dysbiosis, in addition to bacteriophages, with drug therapy various probiotics are used (Bifidumbacterin, Lactobacterin, Atsilakt, Acipol, etc.) and/or adequate for a specific strain e. coli and the cause of dysbiosis - antibiotics (in adults).

Escherichiosis

Pathogenic serotypes of Escherichia coli can cause Escherichiosis - various infectious diseases, occurring with intoxication, fever, usually with damage to the gastrointestinal tract, less often - the urinary, biliary tract, other organs, or with the development of sepsis. Escherichiosis is more common in children early age. The mechanism of spread of escherichiosis in the gastrointestinal tract is fecal-oral. Most often, infection occurs through contaminated food or water.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is often referred to by its Latin abbreviation - ETEC. Intestinal infections, caused by enteropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, develop most often in the small intestine of children in the first year of life, including newborns. The disease is accompanied severe diarrhea with watery stool without blood, severe abdominal pain, vomiting. Enteropathogenic escherichia coli are common cause diarrhea in maternity hospitals. ETEC strains are the leading cause of acute watery diarrhea in developing countries, especially during warm and humid seasons. In both developed and developing countries, strains of enteropathogenic E. coli are the most common cause of traveler's diarrhea, which usually resolves without treatment.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli has two important factors virulence:

colonization factor, due to which ETEC adheres to enterocytes small intestine
toxic factor: ETEC strains produce heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins that cause secretion of juice and electrolytes, resulting in watery diarrhea. ETEC do not destroy the brush border and do not penetrate the intestinal mucosa

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic E. coli have the ability to attach to epithelial cells of the small intestinal mucosa and produce toxins that cause diarrhea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli are the leading cause of acute diarrhea in children and adults and the most common cause of so-called “travelers' diarrhea.”

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are a cause of hemorrhagic colitis and also serious illness- hemolytic-uremic syndrome (microangiopathic hemolytic anemia combined with renal failure; abbreviation GUS or HUS).

Hemorrhagic colitis is characterized by an acute onset in the form of severe cramping abdominal pain and watery diarrhea, which soon becomes bloody. There is usually no fever, but in some people the body temperature can reach 39°C. In mild cases of hemorrhagic colitis, it lasts 7–10 days. In approximately 5% of cases, hemorrhagic colitis is complicated by hemorrhagic syndrome, acute renal failure and hemolytic anemia.

Source of infection May 2011 in Germany and others European countries was a strain of Shiga toxin-producing STEC (synonym: verotoxin-producing - VTEC) enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.

Infection with STEC or VTEC E. coli occurs most often through food or through close contact with sick people or animals. A small number of STEC/VTEC is sufficient for the onset of the disease Escherichia coli.

It has been established that the causative agent of the European infection of May 2011 is Escherichia coli of the serological group E. coli O104 (serotype E. coli O104:H4), which has in its genome a gene responsible for the production of Shiga-like toxin type 2. Unlike classical enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli ( E. coli O157:H7), strains E.coli O104:H4 do not have the eae gene responsible for the production of the protein intimin, which is an adhesion factor.

Strains E. coli O104:H4 isolated from patients was resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics due to the production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, but remained sensitive to aminoglycosides (gentamicin) and fluoroquinolones.

After infection with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli incubation period lasts most often from 48 to 72 hours, but can also last from 1 to 10 days. Symptoms of infection include cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea, often with blood. Fever and vomiting may occur. Most patients recover within 10 days. Sometimes the infection can lead to life-threatening conditions such as hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli

Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli is often referred to by its Latin abbreviation - EIEC. Enteroinvasive E. coli cause diseases similar in presentation to bacillary dysentery (caused by Shigella). EIEC strains are similar to Shigella both biochemically and serologically. As in the case Shigella, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli penetrate epithelial cells colon and reproduce there. The patient has abdominal pain, profuse watery diarrhea mixed with blood. In developing countries, EIEC strains are rare. They cause periodic outbreaks of foodborne infections among children and adults. The symptoms of the disease have much in common with the manifestations of shigellosis. Presumably the same antibiotics are effective against EIEC as against Shigella provided that the sensitivity of this strain remains in a particular area, however, the effectiveness of therapy has never been assessed in controlled studies.

Escherichia coli - the causative agent of diseases of the genitourinary organs

Infection with Escherichia coli (as well as other uropathogenic microbes that live in the intestines) genitourinary organs, especially in women, often occurs directly from the gastrointestinal tract due to poor hygiene or the use of specific sexual practices. E. coli enters the vagina from the rectum. E. coli are the cause of:

about 80% of community-acquired urinary tract infections
64% of all diseases with acute prostatitis
80% of all chronic prostatitis
for patients over 35 years of age - most of all epididymitis ( inflammatory process in the epididymis), orchitis (inflammation of the testicle) and epididymo-orchitis (combined inflammation of the testicle and epididymis)
70-95% of urinary tract infections reaching the bladder or kidney via an ascending route
other diseases of the genitourinary organs.

E. coli in urine

Bacteriuria - the presence of bacteria in the urine can be a sign of inflammation in the urinary tract, bladder, and kidneys. In the absence of any symptoms, true bacteriuria (urinary tract infection) is diagnosed if there are at least 10 5 microbial bodies of E. coli (or other enterobacteria) in 1 ml of freshly released urine, otherwise it is assumed that urine contamination occurs during collection. If bacteriuria is not accompanied by any symptoms, then it is called asymptomatic. Asymptomatic bacteriuria does not always require immediate treatment.

If symptoms are present or urine is collected by catheter, the diagnostic threshold may be significantly reduced. In particular, if there is clinical symptoms(fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, pain in lumbar region, dysuria) and the release of at least 10 leukocytes in 1 μl of urine, a criterion for diagnosis acute pyelonephritis is the presence of at least 10 4 E. coli (or other pathogenic enterobacteria) in 1 ml of freshly released urine. Acute cystitis is diagnosed in the presence of appropriate clinical symptoms, the isolation of at least 10 leukocytes in 1 μl of urine and the detection of at least 10 2 E. coli (or other coliform bacteria) in 1 ml of urine.

Escherichia coli strains - probiotics and drug components

Escherichia coli strain Escherichia coli Nissle 1917(DSM 6601) is considered the most effective probiotic to help reduce inflammation and delay the next attack ulcerative colitis(Probiotics. What are they and what can they do?). This strain is included, in particular, in the probiotic Mutaflor (Ardeypharm).

Specially selected strains of Escherichia coli are included in the medicines: Hilak forte (strain DSM 4087), Bificol (strain M-17), Colibacterin (strain M-17) and others.

Antibiotics active against E. coli

Antibacterial agents (those described in this reference book) active against E. coli: amoxicillin, levofloxacin, nifuratel, nifuroxazide, rifaximin, furazolidone, ciprofloxacin.

Escherichia coli (Escherichia coli, or E. coli) refers to microorganisms that are somehow present in the human body. It is involved in digestion, helps suppress certain bacteria, and helps create healthy microflora.

However, the place of E. coli is in the intestines, and if it appears in another environment, it can cause various diseases. That is why, if Escherichia coli is found in urine culture, and a test taken a week later confirms the result, then it is necessary to carefully examine the organs of the urinary system.

What does E. coli in urine mean?

Finding E. coli does not necessarily indicate a problem, especially if there are no other symptoms. Perhaps it's just about "dirty" collected analysis, without following hygiene rules, as a result of which microorganisms got into the samples. But the presence of Escherichia coli hemolitica in the urine should be a cause for alarm - after all, normally this strain should be absent from the intestines.

If bacterial culture of urine reveals E. coli, this is a reason to carefully examine the patient for urinary tract infections. Diseases such as urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis and even chronic prostatitis can be detected. Up to 80% of urinary infections that ascend to the kidney or bladder are associated with the appearance of E. Coli in the urine.

Treatment of E. coli in urine

Treatment of E. coli in urine includes various measures:

Diet (table No. 7)
Maintaining immunity
Antibacterial therapy
Hospitalization if necessary

Self-medication is unacceptable. Yes and folk remedies should be used after doctor's approval. Shilajit is effective against E. coli in the urine, use fermented milk products and herbal infusions.

Thus, if Escherichia coli is detected in urine culture, there is no need to panic. Perhaps these are simply poor hygiene or a minor inflammatory process. However, treatment of E. coli in urine should still be carried out, since this is a violation of the norm. It is especially important to prevent the development of infection in pregnant women. Important role At the same time, prevention is given priority: maintaining personal hygiene and food processing rules.