E. coli Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(The following information was provided by the CDC.)
What is E. coli?
A common kind of bacteria that lives in the intestines of animals and people.
Is there more than one kind of E. coli?
There are many strains of E. Coli. Most are harmless. However, on dangerous strain called E. coli O157:H7. It produces a powerful poison and you can become very sick if it gets into your food or water.
How is E. coli O157:H7 spread?
Outbreaks often are caused by food that has gotten the bacteria, E coli, in it. Bacteria can get accidentally mixed into ground beef before packaging. Eating undercooked meat can spread the bacteria, even though the meat looks and smells normal. E. coli can also live on cows’ udders. It may get into milk that is not pasteurized.
What about water?
Raw vegetables, sprouts, and fruits that have been grown or washed in dirty water can carry E. coli O157:H7. It can get into drinking water, lakes, or swimming pools that have sewage in them. It is also spread by people who have not washed their hands after going to the toilet.
Can people spread E. coli?
E. coli can be spread to others by toddlers who are not toilet trained or by adults who do not wash their hands carefully after changing diapers. Children can pass the bacteria in their stool to another person for 2 weeks after they have gotten well from an E. coli O157:H7 illness. Older children and adults rarely carry the bacteria without symptoms.
What are the signs of E. coli O157:H7?
Bloody diarrhea and stomach pain are the most common signs of E. coli O157:H7 sickness. People usually do not have a fever, or may have only a slight fever.
How is it treated?
Your doctor will tell you what is best. Taking medicine on your own may not help you get better, and it could make things worse. Do not take antibiotics or diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Will E. coli O157:H7 infection cause problems for me later?
People who have only diarrhea and stomach ache usually get completely well in 5-10 days. They do not have problems later.
What can I do to stay safe from E. coli O157:H7?
During an outbreak: Carefully follow instructions provided by public health officials on what foods to avoid in order to protect yourself and your family from infection.
- Cook all ground beef thoroughly. During an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, vegetables should be boiled for at least 1 minute before serving.
- Cook ground beef to 160° F Test the meat by putting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Do not eat ground beef that is still pink in the middle.
- If a restaurant serves you an under-cooked hamburger, send it back for more cooking. Ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too.
- Don’t spread bacteria in your kitchen. Keep raw meat away from other foods. Wash your hands, cutting board, counter, dishes, and knives and forks with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat, spinach, greens, or sprouts.
- Never put cooked hamburgers or meat on the plate they were on before cooking. Wash the meat thermometer after use.
- Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider. Frozen juice or juice sold in boxes and glass jars at room temperature has been pasteurized, although it may not say so on the label.
- Drink water from safe sources like municipal water that has been treated with chlorine, wells that have been tested or bottled water.
- Do not swallow lake or pool water while you are swimming.
