Screening for toxigenic Escherichia coli in stool samples of diarrhoeal patients by polymerase chain reaction

ABSTRACT

Escherichia coli [E. coli] are normal flora of the intestines of most animals, including humans. Most strains are harmless and beneficial to host by preventing the establishment of pathogenic bacteria within the intestine. However, some E. coli strains can cause a wide variety of intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases, such as diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, septicaemia, neonatal meningitis and renal complications