Want to know what steps doctors will take to diagnose you of E. Coli? It's actually rather simple, just a physical check up and a stool culture!(1) You can collect the sample at home or in the medical clinic, but be sure not to mix in any urine, soap, or blood with the stool test. It is advised for women to wait 3 days after their menstrual period to do stool cultures to avoid blood contamination. This test will determine the presence of bacteria, fungi, or parasites in your intestine that could be causing your symptoms. If Escherichia Coli is present, you will be notified and given more information.
References:
1. "E. Coli: Tests and Diagnosis - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/e-coli/DS01007/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis.
Escherichia coli (E. coli): A bacillus shaped bacteria that is normally found in the human gastrointestinal tract and existing as numerous strains, some of which are responsible for diarrheal diseases. Other strains have been used experimentally in molecular biology.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
OUTBREAKS
Authors: Naseer, Umaer1 Umaer.Naseer@fagmed.uit.no
Natås, Olav B.2,3
Haldorsen, Bjørg C.1
Bue, Berit3
Grundt, Heidi4
Walsh, Timothy R.5
Sundsfjord, Arnfinn1 arnfinns@fagmed.uit.no.
Source: APMIS; Feb2007, Vol. 115 Issue 2, p120-126, 7p, 2 Diagrams, 2 Charts.
Document Type: Article.
Seven patients with samples from the kidney, lungs, and urinary showed that they were having 3rd generation cephalosporin’s (antibiotic) resistance. The seven patients that were in the hospital were let go from the Divisions of Geriatrics and Pulmonary Medicine, Central Hospital of Rogaland, sometime between July and September 2004.A genotype found in six strains that were showed resistance to the following medication; gentamicin, nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin. More research also showed that two people tested positive for E. coli urinary infections, which was the same the strain from two other different patients in the same area in both January and February 2004. The following patients that were dealing with that outbreak were later taken back into medical care. Test's that were ran showed that one of the E.Coli strains that a patient had was something that helped kill three of the patients. These three deaths occurred because of the deficiency of antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrobial therapy is an antimicrobial substance that kills or stunts the growth of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, or protozoans.
Authors: Guh, Alice1, 2 ggt4@cdc.gov
Quyen Phan2
Nelson, Randall2
Purviance, Katherine2
Milardo, Elaine3
Kinney, Stacey2
Mshar, Patricia2
Kasacek, Wayne4
Cartter, Matthew2.
Author Affiliations: 1Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 2Connecticut Department of Public Health, 3Farmington Valley Health District, Avon, Connecticut, 4Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Hartford.
Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases; 12/15/2010, Vol. 51 Issue 12, p1411-1417, 7p, four Charts, one Graph.
Document Type: Article.
Got Milk!? Well in Connecticut, they had milk but the milk was the wrong kind of milk. The milk you did not want to purchase for any reason ever. It would be in July 2008 that two children caught E.Coli 0157 after they drinking milk that was purchased at a retail market. This milk was raw milk, raw milk itself has its own worries itself, one being, E.Coli. The outbreak caused things like diarrheal illness for the people that were customers here at this retail market. Stool specimens of both humans and animals were taken and tested for E.Coli 0157. Out of the 14 cases that were identified only half of them were confirmed. Out of the seven cases, five of them were such a danger that they required the patients to seek medical attention and stay in the hospital. Luckily, no deaths were reported from this outbreak that happened. One milking cow also had E.Coli, the issue here was there was no rule against raw milk's distribution allowing animals to spread E.Coli easy and people catch and spread the E.Coli well after drinking and being around the animals. The increase of raw milk testing for pathogens is something that is was a result from this incident, also to prohibit nonfarm retail sales as well.
Authors: McCartney G; Cowden J; Murray S; Ahmed S.
Author Address: Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Gerry@sphsu.mrc.ac.uk.
Source: Epidemiology and Infection [Epidemiology Infect] 2010 Oct; Vol. 138 (10), pp. 1439-42. Date of Electronic Publication:
2010 Feb 10
Publication Type: Journal Article.
Journal Information: Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8703737 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium:
Numerous foodborne outbreaks in retail stores! In 2007, there was an outbreak of E.Coli 0157, which is the strain that is found in foods! The outbreak was in Paisley, Scotland and was connected to meat that was not prepared from a supermarket as best as it should have. The item that wasn't handled correctly was beef this time rather than other foods that can carry E.Coli such as lettuce, spinach or other various types of meats. When things like this occur before a store says there's E.Coli in our store! They go about using a precaution method basically stating be careful because there's a chance E.Coli can be here in this item or items. So before the store said that the beef is the issue that you should watch out for they just used a precaution method.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Preventing Escherichia Coli, How to survive! Or at least stand a good chance..
Preventing the potentially deadly E. Coli disease is not as difficult as one may think. Just like many other diseases, it can be prevented with good hygiene, proper cooking knowledge, and caution of certain types of meats. Today we will be talking specifically about what steps to take while cooking food to prevent the contamination of E. Coli.
The first thing you will want to make sure you do is wash your hands! Escherichia Coli can live on surfaces for weeks, and the last think you want to do is cross-contaminate food by touching other foods after dealing with meat!
(image from http://www.ehow.com/how_5259215_cook-meal-minutes-chicken-rice.html)
Be sure to rinse the meat off throughly, however this will not get rid of all the bacteria. To do this, you must heat the meat up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, to make sure all bacteria has been killed. Make sure the meat is cooked thoroughly before eating. Be especially careful with ground meat, as you are more succeptile to get E. Coli from it.
Clean all dishes used to cook the meat with soap and hot water to kill of any remaining bacteria. By following these steps you will drastically cut back chances of not only getting E. Coli, but any disease that could be contracted from eating raw meats.
Although these will cut back your chances of contracting the disease, there are also other ways that E. Coli may get into your body besides just meat. To counter this, you should:
The first thing you will want to make sure you do is wash your hands! Escherichia Coli can live on surfaces for weeks, and the last think you want to do is cross-contaminate food by touching other foods after dealing with meat!
(image from http://www.ehow.com/how_5259215_cook-meal-minutes-chicken-rice.html)
Be sure to rinse the meat off throughly, however this will not get rid of all the bacteria. To do this, you must heat the meat up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, to make sure all bacteria has been killed. Make sure the meat is cooked thoroughly before eating. Be especially careful with ground meat, as you are more succeptile to get E. Coli from it.
Clean all dishes used to cook the meat with soap and hot water to kill of any remaining bacteria. By following these steps you will drastically cut back chances of not only getting E. Coli, but any disease that could be contracted from eating raw meats.
Although these will cut back your chances of contracting the disease, there are also other ways that E. Coli may get into your body besides just meat. To counter this, you should:
- Not drink any milk, apple juice, apple cider, or other fluids that are unpasteurized or untreated.
- Do not allow children to share bath water with those who have symptoms of diarrhea or stomach flu
- Wear disposable gloves while changing the diapers of babies who have diarrhea
These are just a few tips and steps that can help save your life, and the lives or your loved ones from this disease. Put these tips to practice, and stay healthy for life!
Reference:
1. "Preventing E. Coli Infection | E. Coli Food Poisoning." E. Coli Food Poisoning | E. Coli Food Poisoning. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. http://www.about-ecoli.com/ecoli_prevention.
Reference:
1. "Preventing E. Coli Infection | E. Coli Food Poisoning." E. Coli Food Poisoning | E. Coli Food Poisoning. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. http://www.about-ecoli.com/ecoli_prevention.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
So YOU HAVE IT?! The treatments and what to expect in the hospital
Today we will go over what treatments will be necessary if it turns out that you do have E. Coli, and what you should expect on your stay in the hospital if it is necessary.
The Treatment: Amazingly, for E. Coli itself there is no specific treatment. Your best bet is to drink a lot of fluids to maintain your hydration, as the diarrhea and vomiting may cause dehydration from the rapid release of fluids. Although Escherichia Coli is a bacteria, DO NOT take any antibiotics. Do not take any anti-diarrheals as well, as this will slow the process of the bacteria leaving your body. It is believed that antibiotics increase the chances of developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which increases the likelihood of death. Most people will recover within 5-10 days if properly hydrating themselves and if they do not develop HUS or other E. Coli related diseases.
So let's Review the Treatments for E. Coli:
- Drink plenty of fluids to properly maintain hydration
- Stay Away from Antibiotics and Anti-Diarrheals!
However, if you do so happen to develop HUS or D+HUS (post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome), the treatments may range from moderate to intensive, and may require that you stay in a hospital from 2 weeks to 3 months. During your hospital stay, you will be administered Nutrition via a peripherally inserted central catheter, as your colon may be inflamed from the diseases. If even after intestinal function has been regained, some patients may continue to have reduced appetite for up to 2 weeks. In this case nutrients would then be administered via a nasogastric tube.(1)
Dialysis may also be required as treatment to cleanse the body of toxins and maintain a balance of fluids and electrolytes. This will be necessary if reduced urine output occurs. Younger children will undergo Peritoneal Dialysis, which involves inserting a catheter through the abdominal wall, and into the peritoneal cavity. Adults and older children will be treated via Hemodialysis. This circulates the blood through a hemodialysis machine to remove the uremic toxins and normalize blood chemistries. This would require a catheter being inserted into a major vein to gain access to blood.
HUS may also cause severe anemia, and blood transfusions will be necessary to correct this. Platelet Transfusions will be required in those with thrombocytopenia to reduce the risk of bleeding.
In patients who develop High Blood Pressure, anti-hypertensive drugs will be used to equalize blood pressure levels. These treatments will be necessary to rid your body of the diseases caused by E. Coli.
Now, lets have one last re-cap of the treatments of the E. Coli-caused diseases, HUS:
- Nutrition administered via peripherally inserted central catheter, and if necessary a nasogastric tube.
- Dialysis to cleanse the body of uremic toxins. Peritoneal Dialysis in young children, and Hemodialysis in older children and adults.
- Blood Transfusions to correct sever anemia, and Platelet Transfusions to reduce risks of bleeding for those with thrombocytopenia.
- Anti-hypertensive drug use for those who develop high-blood-pressure.
As you can see, treatments for diseases caused by E. Coli are much more intense then treating E. Coli itself. For a better understanding on the diseases HUS and Thrombocytopenia and not just their treatments, view the post "E. Coli, it can only be the beginning... of the end!".
References:
1. "Treatment of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome- Diagnosis - Uremic Poisoning." Personal Injury Lawyer MN in Best Lawyers Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Minneapolis - PritzkerOlsen, P.A. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome-treatment/.
References:
1. "Treatment of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome- Diagnosis - Uremic Poisoning." Personal Injury Lawyer MN in Best Lawyers Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Minneapolis - PritzkerOlsen, P.A. Web. 16 Apr. 2011. http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome-treatment/.
Natural Occurrence of E. Coli
Although many believe E. Coli to be this foreign, harmful invader, E. Coli is actually a naturally occurrence that we become aware about only when a true infection breaks out. As a matter of fact, we come in contact with E. coli bacteria on a nearly daily basis when cooking meat, but it is not everyday that we become infected.
E. Coli lives in the intestines of nearly all mammals. It is a naturally occurring bacteria that aids with their digestion. Yes, this means that animals can, and do, have E. Coli bacteria in their bodies without becoming infected. And guess what, It lives in our intestines too! Many strains of E. Coli will be ingested but cause no harm, they will be killed of by our stomach acid. However, when other E. Coli strains come in contact with other parts of our body, infection occurs.
Hopefully this will shed some light on what many of you thought you knew about E. Coli. For those of you who were aware of this, good job! Inform all of your friends that there is no need to worry that this disease was manufactured by the government to be biological weapons (and there are people out there that believe this.) Remember that E. Coli is a naturally occurring bacteria, one that we have to watch out for, and can be taken care of with careful hygiene and understanding of how it works.
E. Coli lives in the intestines of nearly all mammals. It is a naturally occurring bacteria that aids with their digestion. Yes, this means that animals can, and do, have E. Coli bacteria in their bodies without becoming infected. And guess what, It lives in our intestines too! Many strains of E. Coli will be ingested but cause no harm, they will be killed of by our stomach acid. However, when other E. Coli strains come in contact with other parts of our body, infection occurs.
Hopefully this will shed some light on what many of you thought you knew about E. Coli. For those of you who were aware of this, good job! Inform all of your friends that there is no need to worry that this disease was manufactured by the government to be biological weapons (and there are people out there that believe this.) Remember that E. Coli is a naturally occurring bacteria, one that we have to watch out for, and can be taken care of with careful hygiene and understanding of how it works.
source: <http://www.professorshouse.com/Food-Beverage/Topics/General/Articles/E--Coli---Just-the-Facts/> accessed 15 April 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
E. Coli: It can only be the beginning...of the end!
Many people do not know the hidden diseases that come along with E. Coli. There are many more health risks than the common symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting. The leading cause of death pertaining to E. Coli is actually a disease many people developing after getting E. Coli called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). Besides this disease, other health risks include abnormal kidney function, blindness, paralysis, hemorrhagic colitis, high blood pressure, seizures, and Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). The most obvious of all, would be death. Two of theses health risks are major, and lead to the most complications and will be described below. These diseases are known as HUS, and TTP.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (1)
This usually affects children under the age of 10 years old, but it is also known to develop in older people.This disease causes damage and reduction of red blood cells, which in turns lead to sever anemia. The blood clots caused by this also inflict damage on blood vessel walls. In turn, this disease itself can lead to many others with many worse side effects. The signs preceding a development of HUS would be bloody diarrhea, and gastrointestinal illness. HUS, as stated in our previous blog "OK so you have it....", requires much aggressive treatment and health care. When watched and treated carefully, HUS has only a 4% death rate, but as many as 15% of those who get E. Coli develop the syndrome. It is the leading cause of E. Coli related deaths.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic purpura (2)
This is when tiny blood vessels called thrombi form blood clots in the body, mainly in the central nervous system and kidneys. These thrombi use a high number of platelets, decreasing the number of platelets in the blood to extremely low levels. This is often times called "adult HUS", as it mainly effects the older population of E. Coli patients.
It is not uncommon to get both of these diseases when one gets E. Coli. As you can see, many serious health risks involves abnormalities in the blood (such as high-blood pressure and the forming of blood clots) which in turn lead to even bigger problems, greatly increasing the chance of death. E. Coli can be the start of a much bigger problem for those who develop these diseases, and for that reason alone it should not be taken lightly. E. Coli itself goes away within 5-10, however these diseases can leave scars that last a lifetime.
References
1. "Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome - E. Coli and HUS - Lawyer and Lawsuit." Personal Injury Lawyer MN in Best Lawyers Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Minneapolis - PritzkerOlsen, P.A. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/.
2. "Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura - PubMed Health." A.D.A.M Inc. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001579/.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (1)
This usually affects children under the age of 10 years old, but it is also known to develop in older people.This disease causes damage and reduction of red blood cells, which in turns lead to sever anemia. The blood clots caused by this also inflict damage on blood vessel walls. In turn, this disease itself can lead to many others with many worse side effects. The signs preceding a development of HUS would be bloody diarrhea, and gastrointestinal illness. HUS, as stated in our previous blog "OK so you have it....", requires much aggressive treatment and health care. When watched and treated carefully, HUS has only a 4% death rate, but as many as 15% of those who get E. Coli develop the syndrome. It is the leading cause of E. Coli related deaths.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic purpura (2)
This is when tiny blood vessels called thrombi form blood clots in the body, mainly in the central nervous system and kidneys. These thrombi use a high number of platelets, decreasing the number of platelets in the blood to extremely low levels. This is often times called "adult HUS", as it mainly effects the older population of E. Coli patients.
It is not uncommon to get both of these diseases when one gets E. Coli. As you can see, many serious health risks involves abnormalities in the blood (such as high-blood pressure and the forming of blood clots) which in turn lead to even bigger problems, greatly increasing the chance of death. E. Coli can be the start of a much bigger problem for those who develop these diseases, and for that reason alone it should not be taken lightly. E. Coli itself goes away within 5-10, however these diseases can leave scars that last a lifetime.
References
1. "Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome - E. Coli and HUS - Lawyer and Lawsuit." Personal Injury Lawyer MN in Best Lawyers Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Minneapolis - PritzkerOlsen, P.A. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome/.
2. "Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura - PubMed Health." A.D.A.M Inc. Web. 15 Apr. 2011. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001579/.
E. Coli Myths and Misunderstandings
So we went around asking people what the knew and understood about E. Coli, and educating them on any information they did not know. We were surprised to find that many people misunderstood E. Coli and did not even know the name of the bacteria that causes it! Today we will go over some comments people had, and correct the myths and misunderstanding it seems the public seems to be unaware of. Be sure to have a piece of pen and paper to write down any new information you find from this post and correct any misunderstandings!
(image from http://www.onlinehomesurveys.com/)
"Isn't E. Coli only found in certain animals like cows and only when they themselves are sick with an infection?"
Actually, no. This myth is wrong in more ways then one. Escherichia Coli is found in many mammals, not just cows and other produce. This bacteria is a normal occurrence in the intestines of their stomachs, and aid in the digestion of foods. E. Coli poising happens when we eat food that still has E. Coli on it, and it comes in contact with our digestive tract. The animal does not need to be sick to get us sick from eating it.
"Aren't there Vaccines for the E. Coli virus?"
No, this is a major misunderstanding. E.coli does not have any vaccines, because the bacteria itself is naturally occurring. Also, Escherichia Coli is not a virus, it is a bacteria, another reason there can be no vaccine for the sickness.
"I can't get E. Coli if i go vegetarian though right?"
Unfortunately, this is not true. It is still possible to get E. Coli if you decide to go vegetarian. This is because other foods can be cross-contaminated and contain E. Coli, and you can also get the disease from drinking unpasteurized drinks. Staying away from meat will definitely decrease your chances of getting the disease, but it does not completely eliminate your chances.
"But it's contagious!"
Not exactly. While it is true you can spread E. Coli to another person. this is done by fecal matter. As long as you stay away from an infected persons fecal matter, or anything contaminated by it, you can not get E. Coli from the infected person. Yes, that means you and your significant other can walk hand in hand!
"I never eat medium rare steaks, that's begging for E. Coli."
Actually, medium rare steak is safe,as long as it is cooked at high enough temperatures (160degrees Fahrenheit). It is the ground meat you want to watch out for. E. coli occurs on the surface of the meats and should be killed when the meat is seared during cooking. The problem with ground meat, is that tissue containing the bacteria could be ground in with the meat during the grounding process. This is what makes it potentially dangerous.
These are a few of the misunderstandings people that we questioned had about E. Coli. Don't be embarrassed if you were under the same impression they were, now that you have the correct information be sure to let everyone know and encourage health and hygeine!
(image from http://www.onlinehomesurveys.com/)
"Isn't E. Coli only found in certain animals like cows and only when they themselves are sick with an infection?"
Actually, no. This myth is wrong in more ways then one. Escherichia Coli is found in many mammals, not just cows and other produce. This bacteria is a normal occurrence in the intestines of their stomachs, and aid in the digestion of foods. E. Coli poising happens when we eat food that still has E. Coli on it, and it comes in contact with our digestive tract. The animal does not need to be sick to get us sick from eating it.
"Aren't there Vaccines for the E. Coli virus?"
No, this is a major misunderstanding. E.coli does not have any vaccines, because the bacteria itself is naturally occurring. Also, Escherichia Coli is not a virus, it is a bacteria, another reason there can be no vaccine for the sickness.
"I can't get E. Coli if i go vegetarian though right?"
Unfortunately, this is not true. It is still possible to get E. Coli if you decide to go vegetarian. This is because other foods can be cross-contaminated and contain E. Coli, and you can also get the disease from drinking unpasteurized drinks. Staying away from meat will definitely decrease your chances of getting the disease, but it does not completely eliminate your chances.
"But it's contagious!"
Not exactly. While it is true you can spread E. Coli to another person. this is done by fecal matter. As long as you stay away from an infected persons fecal matter, or anything contaminated by it, you can not get E. Coli from the infected person. Yes, that means you and your significant other can walk hand in hand!
"I never eat medium rare steaks, that's begging for E. Coli."
Actually, medium rare steak is safe,as long as it is cooked at high enough temperatures (160degrees Fahrenheit). It is the ground meat you want to watch out for. E. coli occurs on the surface of the meats and should be killed when the meat is seared during cooking. The problem with ground meat, is that tissue containing the bacteria could be ground in with the meat during the grounding process. This is what makes it potentially dangerous.
These are a few of the misunderstandings people that we questioned had about E. Coli. Don't be embarrassed if you were under the same impression they were, now that you have the correct information be sure to let everyone know and encourage health and hygeine!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
AOL's Interview about E.Coli strains
(image from http://spie.org/x8457.xml?ArticleID=x8457)
According to an interview conducted by AOL with Dr. David Acheson, safety food experts have made numerous attempts to grab the attention of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to try and gain control of the 6 strains of E.Coli, besides the E.Coli 0157 strain that can be found in food.
"Not all of the 6 strains are as dangerous as the E.Coli 0157" according to Dr. David Acheson, who is the former assistant commissioner for the food protection at the Food and Drug Administration.
The top 6 feared strains other then the 0157, are strains that are sickening as many as thousands of people annually in the US. The strains he is specifically talking about are: E. coli O26, O103, O111, O121, O45 and O145. Although there are other strains, these strains are said to belong to the top six feared strains due to their high frequency of being reported in infected persons.
The CDC reports over 30,000 illnesses and deaths a year, this does not even include the cases that go unreported or the cases that are also undetected. It is said by the CDC also that the actually number of cases are actually 38 to 40 times more then the number reported due to these types of things happening.
This happens because some people try to handle it on their own whether that be using medication or seeking medical care, or the tests that are being conducted to test for pathogens are sometimes not tested for certain ones, making things like E.Coli go unseen when they are actually present.
Dr. Griffin also noted that only 4 to 5 percent will routinely look for Shiga toxins in stool samples of a person that has diarrhea. With this happening. "If labs don’t look for it, they won't find it, but the existence of these illness-causing strains is well known, even to the USDA" he says.
This is an issue by itself because people are living with E.Coli and not knowing it, could be spreading it and it could be something that is later fatal.
According to other statements made in the interview;
"Its own scientists from the agency's Agricultural Research Service and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center documented the non-O157 strains in 1,186 samples of beef trim imported
to meet the U.S. demand for lean ground beef. The testing was done on meat from Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and the U.S.
All the traditional food-borne bad boys were found in the samples, but in addition to the salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and E. coli, the scientists found 99 different strains
of non-0157 Shiga.
Between 20 percent and 30 percent of the beef trim sampled was positive for non-0157, and 13 different strains or serotypes were identified, many, the scientists said, for the first
time in meat".
References:
1. Acheson, David. "The 'Holy Six' Strains of E. Coli That Many Experts Fear." Top News & Analysis, US, World, Sports, Celebrity & Weird News. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/28/the-holy-six-strains-of-e-coli-that-many-experts-fear/.
1. Acheson, David. "The 'Holy Six' Strains of E. Coli That Many Experts Fear." Top News & Analysis, US, World, Sports, Celebrity & Weird News. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/28/the-holy-six-strains-of-e-coli-that-many-experts-fear/.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Symptoms of the beast
Symptoms
Did you know that children are more prone than adulats are to develop the symtoms Of E.Coli.
Many people that have the infection will suffer from things like:
Severe stomach cramps
Constipation
Abdominal tenderness
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea that begins watery and ends with being bloody at the end.
Diarrhea that begins watery and ends with being bloody at the end.
There is also a possibility that people who are infected may not show any symptoms at all, and could also be the cause of spreading it with out knowing it at all. Something like bloody diarrhea is something that is both common and a confirmed symptom of an E. coli infection. Symptoms of E.Coli infections last about a week with no re-occurring or occurring issues. The other side effects of things that occur from what else you experience having E.Coli you can end up with other problems. An example would be the effects of having the diarrhea, health issues with the blood and kidney's could happen in a 2 to 14 day range after the diarrhea. This can also cause a further problem like kidney failure, long-term disability, and death in people such as children and older adults. The symptoms of food poisoning depends specifically on the type of food poisoning that it is and the amount that person intakes. Also the symptoms of food poisoning can take effect as fast as within 30 minute prior to the intake, or even develop in a slow pace such as days and even weeks.
Source:
Thursday, April 7, 2011
EAT SMART!
(image from http://www.tudiabetes.org/notes/Discounts)
As we all know by now, E. Coli is a bacteria present in many meats (especially the uncooked kind) and unpasteurized drinks. Many restaurants have had complaints of attendees getting food poisoning, and of those complaints, many people have actually got E. Coli. None of us want to be those people, so make sure that whenever you go to a restaurant that you:
- Make sure your food is thoroughly cooked. Don't ask for it lightly cooked, make sure the chef knows the correct temperature to cook meat at to kill bacteria. If the chef does not know the correct answer (160 degrees Fahrenheit) then chances are higher your food may not be cooked completely.
- To make sure your food has been prepared correctly, cut into the meat before eating. The inside of the meat should be darkened brown, it should not be light pink or bloody, as these are signs of insufficient preparation. If your food has not been properly prepared, do not ask for a refund, leave the restaurant and file a complaint immediately.
- If ordering milk, apple juice or cider, always ask if their drink have been pasteurized. If they have not, leave the restaurant as no restaurant should be serving unpasteurized refreshments.
Above all, never eat at restaurants who have received complaints about uncooked meals and poor chef hygiene.
Eating Smart can save your health, always remember these tips wherever you and your friends or family choose to eat!
(Image obtained from http://www.cafepress.com/+anti_e_coli_large_mug,75205368)
(Image obtained from http://www.cafepress.com/+anti_e_coli_large_mug,75205368)
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Tainted Case
The effects of E. Coli are never well understood, untill you see exactly how it can change the life of a person so sudden and unexpecatadely. Today we decided to show you all a video, which we got from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HA8iyzYnXuc&feature=youtu.be, telling the story of a young woman named Stephanie Smith. She contracted E. Coli after eating a contaminated burger. Hopefyllu, after this video we can all further grasp what it means to battle E. Coli and the importance of making sure our food and water supply are clean of this bacteria..
She is not alone in her battle. E. Coli infects many people, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that E. Coli 0157 cases have "dropped significantly in 2009." (Young, CNN.com)
Even though E. Coli infections are dropping, this does not mean we can let our gaurd down. Remember to stay aware, to stay safe.
References:
1. Young, Suandra. "CDC Claims E. Coli Infection Rates Down." Web. 04 Apr. 2011. <CDC Claims E. Coli Infection Rates Down>.http://www.ktradionetwork.com/health/cdc-claims-e-coli-infection-rates-down/
She is not alone in her battle. E. Coli infects many people, although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that E. Coli 0157 cases have "dropped significantly in 2009." (Young, CNN.com)
Even though E. Coli infections are dropping, this does not mean we can let our gaurd down. Remember to stay aware, to stay safe.
References:
1. Young, Suandra. "CDC Claims E. Coli Infection Rates Down." Web. 04 Apr. 2011. <CDC Claims E. Coli Infection Rates Down>.http://www.ktradionetwork.com/health/cdc-claims-e-coli-infection-rates-down/
Friday, April 1, 2011
Who's at Risk?
(image from http://designtaxi.com/news/34517/0-to-100-A-Photography-Project-Tracing-a-Century-of-Human-Life/)
Although it can potentially infect everyone, there are of course certain people at greater risk to contracting this disease, especially the elderly and young (1). Here is a brief list of things that will place people at higher risk to getting E. Coli:
- Immune Deficiency: Those with weak immune systems, and with diseases that weaken their immune systems such as AIDS, are at higher risk of getting E. Coli. Their bodies will have a much harder time fighting off the bacteria and their symptoms will many times be worse than those with strong immune systems.
- Stomach reduction surgery: People who have gotten stomach reduction surgeries have less stomach acid to fight of the Escherichia Coli bacteria, increasing their risk of the bacteria infecting them.
- Certain Foods: Eating certain foods can put you at a major risk, perhaps at a higher risk than all other factors. Eating uncooked meats, unpasteurized milk, apple juice, and apple cider are what you should stay away from. These foods, since untreated, can contain the Escherichia Coli bacteria and will cause the disease if consumed.
- Age: The young and elderly are at increased risk as well. This may be due to their weakened immune systems, as young children's immune systems are still not fully developed and the elderly's immune systems begin to weaken with age.
- Irresponsible cooks: Many times, people get E. Coli after having a meal at a restaurant who's cooks did not take the necessary precautions to prepare their food properly. It has happened too many times where a chef does not cook the food well enough, or does not wash his hand properly before beginning to cook again. If you suspect foul play at the restaurant, or it has had previous reviews of people attending getting food poisoning, stay away! (For more information on this, check out out blog post "EAT SMART!" It will go into more detail on healthy choices at restaurants if you are worried about Escherichia Coli in the meat.)
If you know you are at a higher risk of contracting E. Coli, take the necessary precautions to stay healthy. Stay away from the uncooked foods, and if you have a weakened immune system, be sure to ask a doctor what vitamins you can take to help your situation. Now that you know the risk factors, always remember to stay one step ahead and prepared for any health situation!
References:
1. "E. Coli Risks - E. Coli Lawyers, Food Poisioning Attorneys - Fred Pritzker." Personal Injury Lawyer MN in Best Lawyers Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Minneapolis - PritzkerOlsen, P.A. Web. 1 Apr. 2011. http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/ecoli-risks/index.htm#children.
References:
1. "E. Coli Risks - E. Coli Lawyers, Food Poisioning Attorneys - Fred Pritzker." Personal Injury Lawyer MN in Best Lawyers Minnesota Wrongful Death Attorneys Minneapolis - PritzkerOlsen, P.A. Web. 1 Apr. 2011. http://www.pritzkerlaw.com/ecoli-risks/index.htm#children.
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