E. coli

What is E. coli?

E. coli is short for Escherichia coli - a bacteria (germ) that causes severe cramps and diarrhoea. E. coli is a leading cause of bloody diarrhoea. 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.

What causes E. coli?

Most E. coli infections come from:

• Eating undercooked ground beef (the inside is pink)
• Drinking contaminated (impure) water
• Drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk
• Working with cattle

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. 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 nursery or school 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.

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 diarrhoea starts. The diarrhoea causes your body to lose fluids and electrolytes (dehydration). This makes you feel sick and tired. The watery diarrhoea lasts for about a day. Then the diarrhoea changes to bright red bloody stools. The infection makes sores in your intestines, so the stools become bloody. Bloody diarrhoea 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 diarrhoea, cramps, fever, nausea or vomiting -- try to get to your doctor right away.

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 diarrhoea 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:

• Wash your hands carefully with soap before you start cooking.
• Cook ground beef until you see no pink anywhere.
• Don't taste small bites of raw ground beef while you're cooking.
• Defrost meats in the refrigerator or the microwave. Don't let meat sit on the counter to defrost.
• 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.
• Don't drink raw milk.
• Keep food refrigerated or frozen.
• Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.
• Refrigerate leftovers right away or throw them away.
• People with diarrhoea should wash their hands carefully and often, using hot water and soap, and washing for at least 30 seconds.
• In restaurants, always order red meat cooked well done so that no pink shows.