Is there any treatment for infection with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria?
Diarrhea caused by E. coli 0157:H7 infection usually resolves over a few days without any specific treatment. Treatment with antibiotics has not been shown to be effective. Antibiotic treatment does not alter the severity or duration of diarrhea, or shorten the period of time someone had E. coli 0157:H7 in their stool. More importantly, antibiotic treatment does not reduce the risk of developing complications of E. coli 0157:H7 infection and may, in fact, increase the risk of developing HUS. It is important to prevent and treat dehydration. HUS requires hospitalization for kidney dialysis.
