E. Coli Infection
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What is E. coli?
E. coli is short for Escherichia coli -- a bacteria (germ) that causes
severe cramps and diarrhea. E. coli is a leading cause of bloody
diarrhea. The symptoms are worse in children and older people, and
especially in people who have another illness. E. coli infection is
more common during the summer months and in northern states.
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How can I catch E. coli infection?
Most E. coli infections come from:
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Eating undercooked ground beef (the inside is pink)
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Drinking contaminated (impure) water
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Drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk
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Working with cattle
Healthy beef and dairy cattle may carry the E. coli germ in their
intestines. The meat can get contaminated with the germ during the
slaughtering process. When beef is ground up, the E. coli germs get
mixed throughout the meat.
The most common way to get this infection is by eating contaminated
food. You can be infected with the E. coli germ if you don't use a high
temperature to cook your beef, or if you don't cook it long enough.
When you eat undercooked beef, the germs go into your stomach and
intestines.
The germ can also be passed from person to person in day care centers
and nursing homes. If you have this infection and don't wash your hands
well with soap after going to the bathroom, you can give the germ to
other people when you touch things, especially food.
People who are infected with E. coli are very contagious. Children
shouldn't go to a day care center until they have 2 negative stool
cultures (proof that the infection is gone). Older people in nursing
homes should stay in bed until 2 stool cultures are negative.
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What are the symptoms of E. coli infection?
Symptoms start about 7 days after you are infected with the germ. The
first sign is severe abdominal cramps that start suddenly. After a few
hours, watery diarrhea starts. The diarrhea causes your body to lose
fluids and electrolytes (dehydration). This makes you feel sick and
tired. The watery diarrhea lasts for about a day. Then the diarrhea
changes to bright red bloody stools. The infection makes sores in your
intestines, so the stools become bloody. Bloody diarrhea lasts for 2 to
5 days. You might have 10 or more bowel movements a day. Some people
say their stools are "all blood and no stool."
You may have a mild fever or no fever. You may also have nausea or
vomiting. If you have any of these symptoms -- watery, bloody diarrhea,
cramps, fever, nausea or vomiting -- try to get to your doctor right
away. |
Are there any complications from E. coli infection?
The most common complication is called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
People with this problem get hemolytic anemia (which is a low red blood
cell count), thrombocytopenia (which is a low platelet count) and renal
failure (which is kidney damage).
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is more common in children. It can cause
acute renal failure in children. This problem starts about 5 to 10 days
after the diarrhea starts. People with this problem must go to a
hospital for medical care. |
How is E. coli infection diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by finding E. coli in a stool culture. If you
have bloody diarrhea, see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor
will do a culture to find out if you have E. coli in your intestines.
The culture has to be taken in the first 48 hours after the bloody
diarrhea starts. |
How is the infection treated?
There is no special treatment, except drinking a lot of water and
watching for complications. Don't take medicine to stop diarrhea unless
your doctor tells you to. This medicine would keep your intestines from
getting rid of the E. coli germ. If you are seriously dehydrated, you
might need to go to the hospital to have fluids put into your veins
with an IV. |
How can I keep from getting E. coli infection?
You can help prevent this infection by handling and cooking meat in a safe way. For your protection, follow these rules:
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Wash your hands carefully with soap before you start cooking.
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Cook ground beef until you see no pink anywhere.
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Don't taste small bites of raw ground beef while you're cooking.
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Don't put cooked hamburgers on a plate that had raw ground beef on it before.
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Cook all hamburgers to at least 155°F. A meat thermometer can help you test your hamburgers.
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Defrost meats in the refrigerator or the microwave. Don't let meat sit on the counter to defrost.
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Keep raw meat and poultry separate from other foods. Use hot water and
soap to wash cutting boards and dishes if raw meat and poultry have
touched them.
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Don't drink raw milk.
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Keep food refrigerated or frozen.
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Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.
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Refrigerate leftovers right away or throw them away.
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People with diarrhea should wash their hands carefully and often, using
hot water and soap, and washing for at least 30 seconds. People who
work in day care centers and homes for the elderly should wash their
hands often, too.
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In restaurants, always order hamburgers that are cooked well done so that no pink shows.
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