What is E. coli? E. coli are bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. Some of the bacteria is harmless, but several are known to produce toxins that can cause diarrhea, and others can cause serious kidney damage.
Most people recover without specific treatment in five to ten days. Antibiotics should not be used for the treatment of E. coli. Studies show that some of the antibiotics may crease the risk of complications.