In a reminder to physicians treating potential victims of E. coli poisoning, the CDC is warning doctors not to prescribe antibiotics for individuals who exhibit symptoms of E. coli infections.
Some doctors still prescribe antibiotics because they are unaware of the advice, misdiagnose the still-rare E. coli O157:H7 or don’t find the relationship between antibiotics and greater medical risk convincing, according to the LA Times.
A 2000 study found that children infected by E. coli O157:H7 and given antibiotics developed a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome at higher rates than children who did not take antibiotics. The syndrome is the leading cause of kidney failure in children.