Topic Overview
What is an E. coli infection?
E. coli is the name of a germ, or bacterium, that
lives in the
of humans and animals.
There are many types of
, and most of them are harmless. But some can
cause bloody diarrhea. These are called enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). One common type is called E. coli O157:H7. In some people, this type of E. coli may also
cause severe
or kidney failure, which can lead to
death.
Other strains of E. coli can cause
urinary tract infections or other infections.
What causes an E. coli infection?
You get an E. coli infection by coming into
contact with the feces, or stool, of humans or animals. This can happen when
you drink water or eat food that has been contaminated by feces.
E. coli in food
E. coli can get into meat during processing. If
the infected meat is not cooked to 160°F (71°C), the bacteria can survive and
infect you when you eat the meat. This is the most common way people in the
United States become infected with E. coli. Any food
that has been in contact with raw meat can also become infected.
Other foods that can be infected with
E. coli include:
- Raw milk or dairy products. Bacteria can
spread from a cow's udders to its milk. Check the labels on dairy products to
make sure they contain the word "." This means the food has
been heated to destroy bacteria.
- Raw fruits and vegetables, such as
lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, or unpasteurized apple cider or other unpasteurized
juices that have come in contact with infected animal feces.
E. coli in water
Human or animal feces infected with E. coli sometimes get into lakes, pools, and water supplies.
People can become infected when a contaminated city or town water supply has
not been properly treated with chlorine or when people accidentally swallow
contaminated water while swimming in a lake, pool, or irrigation canal.
E. coli from person-to-person contact
The bacteria can also spread from one person to
another, usually when an infected person does not wash his or her hands well
after a bowel movement. E. coli can spread from an
infected person's hands to other people or to objects.
What are the symptoms?
The main
symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection are: