Researcher Information
Sharoni Michal
sharonim@mit.edu (123) 456-7890
The information provided below is for MIT researchers' use and is subject to change by EHS. For our legal disclaimer please see - http://ehs.mit.edu/site/content/legal-disclaimer
Agent Characteristics
Escherichia coli
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli /STEC / VTEC /EHEC including O157:H7
RG 2
Bacteria
Yes       Yes   Yes  
Family: Enterobacteriaceae.  Gram negative, rod shaped, non-spore forming and motile.  Produces 2 types of Vero/Shiga toxins (VT1/Stx1 and VT2/Stx2).
HumansAnimals
Cut/ Needlestick / Non-intact skinIngestionMucous Membranes
Infectious dose: varies by strain; as low as 10 organisms for EHEC/STEC. Incubation time: varies by strain from 10 hrs up to 10 days.  Median 3-4 days
Health Hazards
Varies by strain.  EHEC/STEC: non-bloody diarrhea progressing to frankly bloody diarrhea in 2-3 days with severe abdominal pain and low-grade fever possible.  May cause severe damage to kidneys, which can be fatal. 
None available
None available
Rehydration and electrolyte replenishment for all strains.  Intravenous hydration may be necessary if dehydration is severe.  Most cases are self-limited, but antibiotics may be needed in some cases, depending on strain and severity.  For E. coli O157:H7, antibiotics are generally contraindicated as they can cause the organism to increase the release of toxins
Containment
BSL 2
ABSL2
Viability
10% household bleach (~0.5% sodium hypochlorite)70% ethanolActivated hydrogen peroxide (PREempt, Rescue)Quaternary ammonia (Quatricide, sklar, Lysol spray, etc.)Phenolic (Vesphene II)hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid (Peridox)Fresh 2% glutaraldehyde (Gluterate / CIDEX)
Autoclave at 121°C for 30 minutes or dry heat (160-170°C for 1 hour)
Survives in dairy (~1hr to 10 days), meat, feces and soil for over 2 months.
Accidental ingestion of pathogen or its toxins.
PPE/Containment
Wear gloves, lab coat, and appropriate lab attire (pants/long dress, closed toed shoes); eye protection, e.g. safety glasses, safety goggles recommended for liquids. Additional PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs for handling Escherichia coli.
Work in a Biosafety cabinet is mandatory, Minimize use of sharps, use centrifuge lids or safety cups.
Spill Procedures
Notify others working in the lab.  Allow aerosols to settle. Don appropriate PPE.  Cover area of the spill with paper towels and apply an EPA approved disinfectant, working from the perimeter towards the center.  Allow 10 minutes of contact time. Cleanup spill materials and dispose as biowaste. Surface disinfect 5-10 minutes. Remove PPE and wash hands.
For large volume spills or biological spills in a public area, contact MIT's Biosafety Program or the EHS office (617-452-3477) during normal business hours.  If the spill occurs after hours or on weekends, activate the EHS ON CALL system by dialing Operations 3-4948 (617-253-4948) or MIT Police by dialing 100 from a campus phone or 617-253-1212 from a mobile phone.
Exposure Procedures
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 15 minutes at eyewash station.
Wash area with soap and water and rinse/scrub for 5-10 minutes.
Immediately report incident to supervisor, PI, or EHS Representative. PI/supervisor must submit incident report in Atlas within 24 hours.
Medical Follow-up
9:00am-4:00pm, weekdays:
contact MIT Occupational Health:
Phone: 617-253-8552
Address: 25 Carleton Street, Building E23, Cambridge, MA 02142
website		 8:00am-8:00pm, weekdays
10:00am-4:00pm, weekends
MIT Health Urgent Care
phone: 617-253-1311
address: 25 Carleton Street, Building E23, Cambridge, MA 02142
Or call MIT Police 617-253-1212		 Emergencies:
Call 100 from a campus phone or
617-253-1212 from a mobile phone
Additional comments
All Category A Infectious agents solid waste, e.g petri dishes, tubes, contaminated gloves, must be inactivated with an appropriate disinfectant before disposing into the biowaste box
References
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/laboratory-biosafety-biosecurity/pathogen-safety-data-sheets-risk-assessment/escherichia-coli-enterohemorrhagic.html
2. Heyman DL. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual (19th ed). American Public Health Association, 2008; pgs 180-195.
3. 3. https://redbook.solutions.aap.org/DocumentLibrary/RedBook2018_9781610021470.pdf
10-14-2022
MMM: updated disinfectants
Created on April  5, 2021 at 12:11 PM (EDT). Last updated by Zhong, Lu on Nov. 19, 2025 at  5:26 PM (EST). Owned by Zhong, Lu.
Lu Zhong
Lu Zhong
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