--- title: Treatment for E. coli infection date: 2007-11-10T02:30:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/treatment-for-e-coli-infection" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) / # Treatment for E. coli infection ### How are Shiga toxin-producing *E. coli* (STEC) infections treated? In most infected individuals, symptoms of a STEC infection last about a week or so and resolve without any long-term problems. It is generally-accepted medical practice that patients with profuse diarrhea or vomiting should be rehydrated. Evidence from studies of children with STEC O157 infection indicates that early use of intravenous fluids (within the first 4 days of diarrhea onset) may decrease the risk of oligoanuric renal failure. Treatment of STEC infections with antibiotics has not been shown to improve diarrheal illness. In fact, there is growing evidence that treatment of STEC diarrhea with certain types of antibiotics actually increases the likelihood that patients will go on to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Therefore, experts recommend that antibiotics, as well as anti-motility agents, narcotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should not be given to patients with acute STEC gastroenteritis. As mentioned above, treatment of *E. coli* O157:H7 infection with fluids before the onset of HUS can have a protective effect against the development of HUS. Because of this, some experts advise hospital admission and administration of intravenous fluids when a patient is thought to have STEC gastroenteritis. If HUS develops, there is no specific treatment or cure for the condition. Dialysis may be used to treat the kidney failure, transfusions may be used to treat anemia, and other supportive care is given. [ Next: How is E. coli Infection Diagnosed? › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/how-is-e-coli-infection-diagnosed) ### More information about E. coli [November 08, 2022 ###### 16 days hospitalized: Summer E. Coli outbreak linked to Wendy's takes a toll on Michiganders The Marler Clark, E. coli attorneys represent 48 victims of the Wendy's E. coli outbreak. A total of 109 people from six states, including New York, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/16-days-hospitalized-summer-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-wendys-takes-a-toll-on-michiganders) [September 27, 2022 ###### Chipotle E. coli Outbreak (2015) The initial, larger STEC O26 outbreak was first detected by public health officials in Washington and Oregon through local foodborne disease surveillance. In late October 2015, officials in those states ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/chipotle-e-coli-outbreak-multistate-2015) [June 04, 2022 ###### E. coli Outbreak linked to Pennsylvania Pool On June 7, 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) received multiple complaints of gastrointestinal illness from patrons of a community swimming pool. Two patrons reported positive Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-pennsylvania-pool) [April 28, 2022 ###### Goat contact in Virginia linked to E. coli illnesses The Loudoun County Health Department is notifying the public of the exposure to a specific type of bacterium, called Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli (STEC), by several people who came ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/goat-contact-in-virginia-linked-to-e-coli-illnesses) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=e-coli&year=all) ## All E. coli Resources [###### E. coli Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) [###### E. coli O157:H7 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) [###### Non-O157 STEC ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) [###### Sources of E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) [###### Transmission of and Infection with E. coli ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) [###### Symptoms of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/symptoms-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Complications of E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/complications-of-e-coli-infection) [###### Treatment for E. coli infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/treatment-for-e-coli-infection) [###### How is E. coli Infection Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/how-is-e-coli-infection-diagnosed) [###### Preventing E. coli Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/preventing-e-coli-infection) [###### E. coli Outbreaks ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-outbreaks) [###### Real Life Impacts of E. coli Infection and HUS ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/real-life-impacts-of-e-coli-infection-and-hus) [###### E. coli Recalls ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-recalls) [###### References ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/references) ### Other foodborne illnesses [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)