Escherichia coli enteritis laboratory findings
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Escherichia coli enteritis Microchapters |
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Differentiating Escherichia coli enteritis from other Diseases |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Escherichia coli enteritis laboratory findings On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Escherichia coli enteritis laboratory findings |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Escherichia coli enteritis laboratory findings |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Laboratory Findings
- Lab findings of E. coli enteritis are usually related to the degree of dehydration. Lab findings include:
- WBC count may be normal or elevated
- Elevated concentration of inflammatory markers (e.g. CRP or ESR)
- Chloride-sensitive metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte derangement (commonly hypokalemia)
- Relative polycythemia in cases of dehydration or hemolytic anemia in cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Elevated concentration of BUN
- Elevated creatinine is suggestive of pre-renal acute kidney injury in severe dehydration or onset of hemolytic uremic syndrome
- To learn more about laboratory findings associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome, click here.
Diagnostic Laboratory Findings
- Stool cultures
- Usually considered reliable diagnostic test
- Diagnosis of E. coli O157:H7 usually requires sorbitol-MacConkey agar
- Serotyping
- ELISA detects Shiga-like toxins 1 and 2 in stools
- ELISA may detect anti-LPS IgM antibodies against some E. coli strains
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Detection of E. coli pathogens and Shiga-like toxin