Diagnosis of E. coli

The information below regarding the diagnosis of E. coli is not medical advice. We are a law firm that represents E. coli victims throughout the United States. We are publishing this information as a public service because we have had situations where doctors have not done the rights tests.  Please contact us about E. coli testing if you have any questions.  This is important for protecting your legal rights and those of your loved ones.

To diagnose illness as an E. coli infection, stool cultures must be taken. Laboratory workers take the stool sample and plate it in different medium to see if E. coli O157:H7 or a similar pathogen is isolated.

It is not always standard procedure for labs to test for E. coli infection, or specifically E. coli O157:H7. So if you believe you could have been exposed to E. coli through raw hamburger, vegetables, or contaminated water, you should request that you are tested for E. coli O157:H7. The specific test for E. coli O157:H7 is done using a medium called Sorbitol-MacConkey agar.

Other tests, such as the Meridian IC-STAT device, have been studied and found accurate and cheap but are not as sensitive as a stool culture (2).

After E. coli O157:H7 is confirmed, blood tests are taken to monitor the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Doctors must also monitor E. coli patients for neurological symptoms (including seizure), appendicitis and intussusceptions (where one part of the bowel slides into an adjoining part) (1).

If you are diagnosed with E. coli, you or your doctor should notify your local and state health departments. To protect your legal rights, you should also contact our law firm at 1-888-377-8900. If you would prefer, you can email our lawyers.

Sources

1. Tarr PI, Neill MA. Esherichia coli O157:H7. 2001. Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 30:3: 735-751.

2. Stapp JR, Jelacic S, Yea Y-L, et al. 2000. Escherichia coli 0157H7 detection: Coproantigen analysis compared with sorbitol-MacConkey agar stool cultures. J Clin Microbiol. 38: 3404.

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TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY AT PRITZKER | RUOHONEN REVIEW YOUR E. COLI CASE, PLEASE SUBMIT THE FORM BELOW. YOU MAY ALSO CALL 1-888-377-8900 (TOLL-FREE) OR EMAIL ATTORNEY FRED PRITZKER.

• Experienced

  Our law firm has represented victims of E. coli outbreaks involving ground beef, spinach and lettuce. We have also handled cases involving restaurants, including cases where health officials could not pinpoint the food served at the restaurant that was responsible for the illnesses. We also have represented the families of people who died from the complications of an E. coli infection, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

• Respected

  Our lawyers have gained a national reputation in this area and have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, TV stations and others. In recognition of their accomplishments, Pritzker | Ruohonen lawyers Fred Pritzker, Rich Ruohonen and Elliot Olsen have been named "Super Lawyers" by Law & Politics.

• Advocates

  For most of our clients, the goal of an E. coli lawsuit is not only just compensation, but also to send a message to food manufacturers, food retailers, restaurants and others that food safety matters. We support our clients in this and take measures to advocate for needed changes on the federal and state levels.