Which condition is a kidney-related complication that can occur after an E. coli infection?

Which condition is a kidney-related complication that can occur after an E. coli infection?

• A. Hemorrhagic Colitis
• B. Hepatic Encephalopathy
• C. Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
• D. Nephrolithiasis

Answer: (C)

Shiga toxin–producing E. coli infections can trigger Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a kidney-related complication. The toxin damages small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to microthrombi that cause microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and platelet consumption. This full setup results in acute kidney injury, often after the diarrheal phase, and is especially common in children. You’d typically see fatigue and pallor from anemia, low platelet counts, elevated creatinine, and possibly reduced urine output, sometimes with schistocytes on a blood smear. The other conditions described aren’t the kidney-focused complication that follows an E. coli infection: hemorrhagic colitis is the severe bloody diarrhea caused by the bacteria itself, hepatic encephalopathy involves liver-related brain dysfunction, and nephrolithiasis refers to kidney stones with a different, non-infectious cause.

Shiga toxin–producing E. coli infections can trigger Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a kidney-related complication. The toxin damages small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to microthrombi that cause microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and platelet consumption. This full setup results in acute kidney injury, often after the diarrheal phase, and is especially common in children. You’d typically see fatigue and pallor from anemia, low platelet counts, elevated creatinine, and possibly reduced urine output, sometimes with schistocytes on a blood smear.

The other conditions described aren’t the kidney-focused complication that follows an E. coli infection: hemorrhagic colitis is the severe bloody diarrhea caused by the bacteria itself, hepatic encephalopathy involves liver-related brain dysfunction, and nephrolithiasis refers to kidney stones with a different, non-infectious cause.