Coli Bacteria
For those who follow the rules of good nutrition by eating healthy foods,
the
rewards can be substantial. But it's also important that you clean and
cook your
food properly. Because if you don't, certain microorganisms that
hitchhike into
your stomach can make you feel miserable. E. coli is a
bacteria that normally
live in the intestines of humans and animals.
Although, most strains of this
bacteria are harmless, several are known to
produce toxins that can cause
diarrhea. One particular E. coli strain can
cause severe diarrhea and kidney
damage E. coli made a notorious appearance
at a fast-food restaurant chain about
three years ago, sickening hundreds and
killing four children who ate
undercooked hamburgers. Experts estimate that
E. coli causes as many as 20,000
infections and 250 deaths per year. The
incidence of food-borne illness is
staggering. Physicians in the United
States deal with 8.2 million cases
annually, a quarter of a million of which
require hospitalization. The bacteria
is acquired by eating food containing
the bacteria. The bacteria live in the
intestines of some healthy cattle, and
contamination of the meat may occur in
the slaughtering process. Eating meat
that is rare or inadequately cooked is the
most common way of getting the
infection. Person-to-person transmission can
occur if infected people do not
wash their hands after using the toilet. People
infected by E. coli can
develop a range of symptoms. Some infected people may
have mild diarrhea or
no symptoms at all. Most identified cases develop severe
diarrhea and
abdominal cramps. Blood is often seen in the stool. Usually little
or no
fever is present. Most people recover without antibiotics or other
specific
treatment in five to 10 days. The best course of action is to drink
plenty of
liquids, rest, and avoid anti-diarrheal medication, which may actually
retard
your ability to eliminate the bacteria. In children under five years of
age,
the infection can cause a complication called hemolytic uremic
syndrome.
This is a serious disease in which red blood cells are
destroyed and the kidneys
fail. Blood clotting factors as well as kidney
dialysis may be necessary. Most
people recover completely, but it can be
fatal. The best way to avoid illness
from beef at home is to cook the meat to
an internal temperature of 160 degrees
Fahrenheit, which will kill the
organism. Though it may put a crimp in your
culinary style when you eat out,
it's probably advisable to go for
"rare" and "medium rare." If your steak or
burger still
looks too pink inside, send it back to the grill. Drink only
pasteurized milk
and milk products. Make sure infected people, especially
children, wash their
hands carefully with soap after using the toilet to
reduce the risk of spreading
the
disease.