E. coli bronchitis

E. coli bronchitis is a lower respiratory tract infection characterized by acute or chronic inflammation of the bronchial mucosa caused by susceptible strains of the Gram-negative bacterium *Escherichia coli* Pathophysiologically, colonization and invasion of the bronchial tree trigger inflammatory hyperemia, edema, and hypersecretion of purulent sputum, clinically manifesting as a productive cough, wheezing, dyspnea, fever, and bronchial wall irritation

While *E. coli* is an uncommon cause of bronchitis in healthy individuals, it predominantly affects hospitalized patients, older adults, or immunocompromised individuals with underlying structural lung diseases, impaired airway clearance, or healthcare-associated microaspiration Pathophysiologically, colonization and invasion of the bronchial tree trigger inflammatory hyperemia, edema, and hypersecretion of purulent sputum, clinically manifesting as a productive cough, wheezing, dyspnea, fever, ...