E. Coli
By, Bodey Behrends
What is E. Coli????
Its a bacterium commonly found in the intestines of humans and other animals, where it usually causes no harm. Some strains can cause severe food poisoning, especially in old people and children.
Symptoms
Symptoms
- Diarrhea, which may range from mild and watery to severe and bloody
- Abdominal cramping, pain or tenderness
- Nausea and vomiting, in some people
- Mild fever
Where is E. Coli Found???
- Under cooked ground beef
- Unpasteurized (raw) milk and juice
- Soft cheeses made from raw milk
How can E. Coli be treated???
- Careful regulation of fluids and essential minerals.
- Dialysis, to filter waste products from your blood. Some people with kidney failure caused by E. coli infection require dialysis.
- Blood transfusion, to treat anemia by giving you additional oxygen-rich red blood cells.
Statistics
- Every year, about 48 million of us, roughly one in six people in the United States, get sick from eating contaminated food.
- E. coli O157 in beef (46 hospitalizations) in 2009-2010
- E. coli O157 in beef (3 deaths) in 2009-2010
Prevention
- always washing your hands before handling, serving, or eating food and after touching animals or working in animal environments
- washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly
- avoiding cross-contamination by using clean utensils, pans, and serving platters
- keeping raw meats away from other foods and away from other clean items
- using a meat thermometer and cooking meat and poultry to proper temperatures