Escherichia coli enteritis classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Serge Korjian M.D., Yazan Daaboul, M.D.

E. coli enteritis may be classified according to the E. coli species into Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and Enteroaggressive E. coli (EAEC).

E. coli enteritis may be classified according to the involved E. coli species listed as follows:

• Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)
• Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) (including diffusely adherent E. coli [DAEC], a subtype of EPEC)
• Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) (may be Shiga-like toxin producing or Verotoxin-producing)
• Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)
• Enteroaggressive E. coli (EAEC)

The following table demonstrates the distinguishing clinical features and pathophysiological mechanisms of various enteritis-causing E. coli strains:

^{a=LT, labile toxin; ST, stable toxin; b=ID, infective dose.
Adapted from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 4A – Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli.[1]}