E. coli is easy to get but there are ways to prevent getting sick from E. coli. You can get E. coli from eating contaminated food, not cleaning kitchen utensils right away and you can get from swimming in contaminated water like lakes and even a swimming pool. E. coli symptoms might not start until days after you eat the contaminated food or swim in contaminated water. It is important that you prevent E. coli in your home.
The symptoms of E coli can range from mild to life threatening and you can get it easily. E coli (Escherichia coli) are bacteria and there are many different strains of E coli, some good and some very bad.
The Different Types of E. coli
Some types of E. coli live in our intestines and are beneficial for our health. There are more than 100 different strains of the E. coli bacteria with a few strains that cause toxins to be produced.
The types of E coli that produce toxins and cause illness are usually what are called food-borne. We can get these types of E. coli from the food we eat, the water we drink and by swimming in E. coli infected water.
The main type of E. coli that can cause us to get sick is known as E. coli O157:H7. This is the most common form of E. coli that you hear about. E. coli O157:H7 is known as a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). There are other strains that are called non-O157 STEC that also causes illness.
E. coli can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a very serious illness affecting the kidneys.
E. coli can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a very serious illness affecting the kidneys.
Rare E. coli Strain O104:H4
In June 2011, an E. coli outbreak in Germany has sickened at least 3,256 and killed at least 33 people. This E. coli is the rarer O104:H4 strain and several hundred of those sickened also have HUS.
The World Health Organization said this strain of E. coli has never been isolated in patients before and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said that this strain is very rare, but not new. [1]
The Causes of E. coli and How We Get Infected
E. coli is present in the intestines of the animals we eat as food. This is not a problem until the bacteria gets out of the intestines.
Meat and poultry can become infected with E. several ways, during the slaughter process, cross-contamination with equipment, handling in the butchering process and even in the home or restaurant when preparing food.
This is why it is important to wash all utensils, cutting boards, and plates right after you prepare a piece of meat before using these items to prepare other foods. If cooked food touches uncooked food that has E. coli, it can also become contaminated.
Vegetables can also become contaminated with E. coli if the vegetables were irrigated or washed with contaminated water. Water can become contaminated with E. coli because of animal manure or human sewage.
Vegetables also can become contaminated if it is comes into contact with utensils or cutting boards that were used with contaminated meat and not washed thoroughly before using for vegetables.
Swimming in rivers, lakes and swimming pools that have water that was somehow contaminated with E. coli can also make us sick. Many times you will see reservoirs or rivers closed because E. coli has been found at unsafe levels.
Thankfully our local and state agencies regularly check our rivers, streams and lakes for E. coli, but they might not catch the high levels in time before people swim in the contaminated water.
Food can be contaminated because of poor hygiene of people from the farm workers to food preparers. Food can also become infected by animal manure or human sewage water used as irrigation in farm fields.
If a person has been infected with E. coli but has no real symptoms, they can pass it on to others. Not by sneezing, but by touching and preparing food.
Other ways we can get E. coli is by eating undercooked meat, eating soft cheese that was made with unpasteurized raw milk, drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk or drinking unpasteurized cider.
This is why the US government has made it illegal for anyone to sell raw unpasteurized milk. When you buy foods like cheese, make sure the label says pasteurized. When grilling outdoors, make sure to check the temperature of the meat, just as you would indoors.
Usually E. coli affects the elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems the worst, but anyone of any age can become infected with E. coli. Many times someone will get a mild E. coli infection and never go to their doctor with the symptoms clearing up soon.
The amount of time between eating food that is contaminated with E. coli and the time you feel sick is called the incubation period, and this is usually 3-4 days after eating the food. But it can be as soon as 1 day or as long as 10 days. The symptoms start out with mild stomach pain and non-bloody diarrhea that can worsen.
This is why it is important to wash all utensils, cutting boards, and plates right after you prepare a piece of meat before using these items to prepare other foods. If cooked food touches uncooked food that has E. coli, it can also become contaminated.
Vegetables can also become contaminated with E. coli if the vegetables were irrigated or washed with contaminated water. Water can become contaminated with E. coli because of animal manure or human sewage.
Vegetables also can become contaminated if it is comes into contact with utensils or cutting boards that were used with contaminated meat and not washed thoroughly before using for vegetables.
Swimming in rivers, lakes and swimming pools that have water that was somehow contaminated with E. coli can also make us sick. Many times you will see reservoirs or rivers closed because E. coli has been found at unsafe levels.
Thankfully our local and state agencies regularly check our rivers, streams and lakes for E. coli, but they might not catch the high levels in time before people swim in the contaminated water.
Food can be contaminated because of poor hygiene of people from the farm workers to food preparers. Food can also become infected by animal manure or human sewage water used as irrigation in farm fields.
If a person has been infected with E. coli but has no real symptoms, they can pass it on to others. Not by sneezing, but by touching and preparing food.
Other ways we can get E. coli is by eating undercooked meat, eating soft cheese that was made with unpasteurized raw milk, drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk or drinking unpasteurized cider.
This is why the US government has made it illegal for anyone to sell raw unpasteurized milk. When you buy foods like cheese, make sure the label says pasteurized. When grilling outdoors, make sure to check the temperature of the meat, just as you would indoors.
Symptoms of E. coli
Usually E. coli affects the elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems the worst, but anyone of any age can become infected with E. coli. Many times someone will get a mild E. coli infection and never go to their doctor with the symptoms clearing up soon.
The amount of time between eating food that is contaminated with E. coli and the time you feel sick is called the incubation period, and this is usually 3-4 days after eating the food. But it can be as soon as 1 day or as long as 10 days. The symptoms start out with mild stomach pain and non-bloody diarrhea that can worsen.
The symptoms of E. coli are:
- Severe stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea and many times bloody diarrhea
- If there is a fever at all, it will be 101F (38C) or less
Usually, the symptoms will go away within 5-7 days. E. coli can also get worse and cause organ failure and also lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can cause the kidneys to stop functioning. The symptoms for HUS are:
- Decreased frequency of urination
- Being very tired
- Loss of pink color in the cheeks and the inside of the lower eyelids
If HUS does develop, it is usually 7 days after the first symptoms about the time the diarrhea is ending. Most people do recover from HUS in a few weeks, but some have permanent damage or even die from this illness. E.
E. coli Prevention Tips
With the right conditions of heat and moisture, one bacterium can reproduce into 17 million bacteria in 12 hours. Food that is left out overnight can become highly contaminated with E. coli. If the food that was left out had only a tiny amount of E. coli, by the next morning it would be highly contaminated. If the food was in the refrigerator, the E. coli bacterium would not multiple. Here are some ways you can avoid E. coli:
- Always practice good hygiene and wash your hands after using the bathroom.
- Wash your hands after contact with animals, at a zoo or even your own yard.
- Always wash cutting boards, plates and utensils immediately after using them for preparing raw meat or poultry.
- Wash vegetables thoroughly, there are also commercial products to wash vegetables.
- Refrigerate cut vegetables and salads immediately.
- Do not eat or drink products made with unpasteurized raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products or unpasteurized juices.
- When traveling to places where the water might not be safe to drink, remember not to use the ice cubes either.
- Do not leave foods out, put them in the refrigerator.
- Keep your mouth closed when swimming in pools, lakes or rivers.
- Cook meat to the correct temperature and use a meat thermometer, the color is not always a good indicator. The USDA recommends cooking meats between 145 F (63C) and 165 F (74C) depending on the type of meat. Please read the USDA guidelines for cooking temperatures.
How to Treat E. coli
Do not take anti-diarrhea medicine like Imodium or Maalox as they can make things worse and increase the risk of getting HUS.
Stay hydrated by taking small sips of water. If you suspect that you do have E. coli, you should go to a doctor so you can be properly diagnosed and treated. Other conditions can cause the same symptoms.
Antibiotics should not be used for E. coli as it can make the infection worse and also increase the risk of HUS. Dr. Buddy Creech, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt School of Medicine said “It seems that antibiotics make the bacteria explode, and the toxins inside get split out and wreak havoc”.
Antibiotics should not be used for E. coli as it can make the infection worse and also increase the risk of HUS. Dr. Buddy Creech, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt School of Medicine said “It seems that antibiotics make the bacteria explode, and the toxins inside get split out and wreak havoc”.
Manure Fertilizer in the Garden and E. coli
Manure is used in organic and in conventional farming. Certified organic farmers must meet strict guidelines. Never use fresh manure.
If you use manure in your home garden, make sure it is composted manure and never use cat, dog or pig manure as a fertilizer. To be safe, apply manure 120 days before harvest.
For more foodborne illnesses, you can read The Prevention of Listeria.
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © June 2011-2019 Sam Montana
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © June 2011-2019 Sam Montana
