What is escherichia coli?

Common colon bacteri: E. Coli is a common oxygen requiring, lactose fermenting bacteria found normally in the colon and feces. You want it in your colon, not your urine, blood stream, or drinking water. Some strains can cause a diarrheal illness, especially if you are not familiar with them, i.e. Travelling, montezuma's revenge. Some strains can cause severe multi organ disease because of a toxin made by the bacteria.

A bacterium: Escherichia coli is a bacterium, a gram negative rod, that normally lives in the large intestine and serves to maintain normal floara in the colon. However, it also causes infections in many organs, most commonly in the urinary tract. It is commonly used in research and has been modified to perform special functions.