Machine learning-based prediction of E. coli infection in hospitalized patients using a no-code analytical framework

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a major global concern, contributing significantly to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Among the causative pathogens, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most frequently isolated microorganisms, particularly in urinary tract infections (UTIs), bloodstream infections, and surgical site infections. Early and accurate prediction of E. coli infection in hospitalized patients remains a significant clinical challenge, yet it has the potential to substantially improve patient outcomes. In addition, identifying patient-related risk factors can support targeted infection control strategies. This study aims to evaluate a no-code machine learning (ML) approach for early prediction of E. coli infection and to identify associated risk factors. ML techniques provide a powerful alternative by enabling the analysis of high-dimensional and heterogeneous datasets, facilitating the discovery of hidden patterns and supporting individualized risk prediction. In this study, a total of 300 clinical samples was collected as a training dataset from hospitalized patients between July 2024 and February 2025 across multiple units of Zagazig University Hospital, Sharkia, Egypt. An independent internal validation dataset of 100 samples was collected during May 2026 from the same hospital, its purpose was to evaluate model generalizability on completely unseen data. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard biochemical methods. Data analysis was performed using the Orange visual programming platform, implementing a modular ML pipeline that integrates data preprocessing, feature handling, model training, and performance evaluation within a no-code environment. The Naive Bayes model, shows potential for predicting E. coli infection in hospitalized patients. The model is intended to predict E. coli infection at the time of specimen collection, before culture results are finalized, depending on clinical data. However, further validation in larger, multi-center prospective cohorts is needed before clinical implementation.