What is E. coli, where does it come from, and how do you prevent illness associated with this type of bacteria?
What is E. coli and Where Does it Come From?
E. coli is a strain of bacteria that lives naturally in the gastrointestinal tract (stomach and intestines) of humans and animals. In fact, E. coli helps keep away other harmful bacteria in the stomach and intestines. Strange isn't it? But that's the way it works.
Some strains or types of E. coli can cause serious illness in humans. E. coli 0157:H7 is a rare and harmful type of E. coli that can cause people to become very ill if they are exposed to this bacterium. This is the type of E. coli that contaminated certain batches of spinach in the United States and made some people very sick.
It is also the type that causes illness when people eat undercooked, contaminated meat, contaminated lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, or milk and juice that is not pasteurized, or when people come into contact with sewage-contaminated water and swallow the water. Food items or water becomes contaminated when animal or human feces containing E. coli 0157:H7 come into contact with it.
Not everyone who is exposed to E. coli will develop illness. It is more common in the very young and very old. But when people develop gastrointestinal illness related to E. coli, they often experience bloody or watery diarrhea that can last for a week or longer. A serious complication that can occur as a result of E. coli 0157:H7 is an illness known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome. This syndrome can lead to kidney failure and even death.
How Can E. Coli Illness Be Prevented?
The most important way to prevent developing illness caused by E. coli 0157:H7 is to avoid consuming contaminated food and water. Meat should be cooked thoroughly with no pink spots in the meat. Lettuce and spinach should be thoroughly washed. It is important to point out that even washing might not be enough sometimes to eliminate the contamination. Therefore, it's important to stay tuned in to news warnings about any outbreaks of E. coli and the source of those outbreaks.
Avoid drinking unpasteurized beverages such as milk and juice. Hand washing before and after food preparation is critical as the bacteria can be spread from your hands to food that others eat and also from person to person. Contaminated water, such as in swimming pools or sewage-laden waters, can also lead to the diarrheal illness caused by E. coli. |
