Escherichia coli enteritis epidemiology and demographics

E. coli is one of the most common causes of diarrhea worldwide and is responsible for 20% to 50% of all infectious diarrhea. The exact incidence of E. coli enteritis is difficult to estimate, but it is thought that E. coli causes more than 500-700 million cases of enteritis and is responsible for approximately 700,000 deaths each year. In the USA, the incidence of E. coli enteritis is estimated to be approximately 20-30 cases per 100,000 individuals. Young children < 5 years of age and elderly individuals are more commonly affected with E. coli enteritis. There is no gender or racial predilection to the development of E. coli enteritis. E. coli enteritis is more common in developing countries than in developed countries.

• E. coli is one of the most common causes of diarrhea worldwide and is responsible for 20% to 50% of all infectious diarrhea.^[1][2][3]
• The exact incidence of E. coli enteritis is difficult to estimate, but it is thought that more than 500-700 million individuals develop E. coli enteritis each year.^[4]

• E. coli enteritis is thought to cause approximately 700,000 deaths worldwide, most of whom are young children < 5 years of age.

• Children and elderly individuals are more commonly affected with E. coli enteritis and are at increased risk of death compared with young and middle-aged adults.^[4]

• There is no gender predilection to the development of E. coli enteritis.

• There is no racial predilection to the development of E. coli enteritis.

• In the USA, the incidence of E. coli enteritis is approximately 20-30 cases per 100,000 individuals.^[4]

• E. coli enteritis is thought to be much more common in developing countries than developed countries due to poor sanitation.^[4]