What affect does E. coli have?

The deadly new strain of E. coli that’s attacking Europe 


The Escherichia coli or E. coli bacteria has raised it’s ugly head on the world stage again this time in parts of Europe and the UK. The First Post UK, June 2, 2011, reported an outbreak of the deadly E. coli bacteria killing at least 16 and leaving a further 1,500 seriously ill in Germany.

The World Health Organization (WHO) are calling this strain of E. coli a completely new strain – a hybrid which they do not quite understand despite the lethal affect it has had on Europe. Officials are no closer to finding the source of the bacterial infection causing serious concerns around the country and across other parts of Europe.

Germany had originally blamed the incident on Spanish cucumbers but has accepted that it is not the case; the source remains unknown at this stage.

The Bloomberg (4 June) confirms at least1823 cases and reports that10 other European countries besides Germany have been affected by the unknown strain of E. coli bacteria. Even more startling, Germany has reported 250 cases of kidney problems with officials warning against eating raw tomatoes, cucumbers and leafy salads.
 

In the UK, there are 11 reported cases all of which have recently traveled to Germany.

What is E. Coli?

Escherichia coli, more commonly known as E. coli, is one of many species of bacteria that normally reside in the intestines of many
 animals including humans. The E. coli found in our intestines, along with other species of bacteria, provide us with essential vitamins, such as Vitamin K and B-complex, to keep us healthy and to help our body break down and digest the food we consume.

While most strains of E. coli are harmless, there are some that can cause a range of illnesses from diarrhea to pneumonia. The strain known as E.coli 0157:h7 can cause fever and chills, bad stomach cramps and belly pains as well as vomiting, diarrhea sometimes with blood – more commonly known as Bloody Diarrhea.

It can be found in contaminated meat, fruits and vegetables. It can be found on most cattle farms, deer, goat, and sheep.

Another strain called E. coli 0104:h4 is thought to be the cause of the current outbreak although the exact source of the outbreak in Germany remains unknown.

The World Health Organisation describes the outbreak as “very large and very severe” and believes the culprit responsible is a completely new strain of the E. coli bacterium.

The strain is thought to have genes from two distinct groups: enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).

The EHEC strain of E. coli causes bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps with the real risk of fatal dehydration. It can also lead to haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) which can result in sudden kidney failure, damage to the liver and problems with the nervous system. At least 470 of the cases in Germany so far have been diagnosed as HUS.
 

 

How do you get an E. coli infection?

You can contract E. coli infection by eating contaminated food such as inadequately cooked beef (especially ground beef). Other sources of the E. coli infection are vegetables grown in improperly composted cow manure or irrigated, treated, or washed with contaminated water.

It is estimated that at least 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur in the US alone each year. Thus it is important to take precautions to ensure you do not contract an infection that could potentially harm you.

How to avoid E. coli infection

Always clean and disinfect any surface that has come in contact with raw meat, before any other item or food is placed on that same surface. Other precautions to take to avoid an E. coli infection are:

  • Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap before and after handling food especially raw meat
  • Wash your hands before you handle other utensils or food items
  • Wash your hands before you eat
  • Wash your hands after using the toilet or after changing a baby’s diaper
  • Never use the same plate for cooked meat as you used for raw meat
  • Always cook meat, especially ground meat, until the juices run absolutely clear – pink is not good enough
  • Do not eat an undercooked hamburger or other ground beef product in a restaurant
  • Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially those that will not be cooked.
  • Remove the outer leaves of leafy vegetables
  • Drink municipal water that has been treated with chlorine or other effective disinfectants
  • Avoid swimming in public pools if you have diarrhea and preparing food for others.
  • Avoid swallowing lake or pool water while swimming.

 
 
Implement these simple precautionary measures into your personal hygiene regime and household and keep your family safe from E. coli infection – simple measures to protect your family from the spread of E. coli disease!
 


 

The devastating symptoms of E. coli

The outbreak of E. coli in Germany

The outbreak of E. coli infection in parts of Europe has captured worldwide attention causing at least 19 deaths and a little over 1800 serious cases of poisoning starting in Germany and spreading to many other states of Europe in recent days (The Guardian, 3 June 2011). The source of the outbreak was originally blamed on Spanish cucumbers causing a diplomatic row, but that is now not the case.

Officials in Germany have stated that the situation is critical but stable and although the spread of the bacteria is not yet under control, it is stabilizing.

Given the amount of international travel that most countries engage in, some countries close to Europe are reacting in various ways; a number of them are bracing for an outbreak in their own countries.


Ireland is currently on a high alert preparing to brace for an inevitable outbreak of the killer E. coli bug. India too is on high alert against the deadly strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria. Russia has reacted by placing a ban on imported fresh fruit and vegetables from the EU refusing to lift the ban until the source has been identified. The US are boosting their inspection of cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes form Germany and Spain.

Visitors to Germany, particularly northern Germany, are being warned not to eat raw tomatoes, fresh cucumbers and leafy salads.

Although the US is reassuring their citizens that the outbreak will not occur in their country, there are 4 reported cases in hospital who are known to have visited Hamburg, Germany.

The Map shows the spread of the E. coli disease from Germany to other parts of Europe. Source: Paddy Allen, The Guardian.

Meet the Shiga Toxin

There are about 700 varieties of E. coli, most of which are harmless to humans. There are, however, a small number strains that produce a toxin known as Shiga which can cause serious illness or death in people as is the case in Europe.

The World Health Organization is calling this variety of E. coli bacteria a completely new strain which the scientists are struggling to understand. Professor James Paton, director of the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases at the University of Adelaide, said the E. coli 0104:H4 strain causes disease by colonizing the human gut releasing the Shiga toxin into the intestines.

“The toxin is then absorbed into the blood and then attacks the kidneys and the small blood vessels, resulting in a life-threatening condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Damage to the blood vessels supplying the gut is also largely responsible for the severe, often bloody diarrhoea suffered by patients with … infection,” he said. (The Guardian)

What the symptoms of E. coli

Symptoms start with severe abdominal cramps suddenly about 7 days after you are infected with the germ. A few hours later, watery diarrhea kicks in lasting for a day. Dehydration begins as the body loses fluids and electrolytes often making you feel sick and tired. Your diarrhea then changes to bright red bloody stools known as bloody diarrhea. The bleeding in the stools is the result of the sores in your intestines. Bloody diarrhea lasts for 2 to 5 days sometimes experiencing up to 10 or more bowel movements a day. Some people have experienced stools that are all blood and no stool.

If that isn’t enough, you may also experience a mild fever, typically not over a 100, as well as nausea or vomiting. You need to get to see your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Although these symptoms usually resolve on their own within 5 to 7 days with some people, with others it can be serious and potentially life threatening.

How to get E. coli

The E. coli bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of warm blooded animals including humans. These include cattle, goats, elk, sheep and deer although other animals including pigs and birds can pick up E. coli from the environment and spread it. For humans though, the most common cause of E. coli infection is cattle.

E. coli is usually spread in a couple of ways: one, by contaminated fecal matter from animals that are carrying the disease; and two, from people who are infected but do not wash their hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom. Microscopic amounts of fecal matter end up on food that we eat causing infections to occur.

Other sources of E. coli can include:

  • drinking raw, unpasteurized  milk
  • drinking unsterilized water
  • drinking unpasteurized apple cider
  • eating soft cheese made from unpasteurized milk
  • swallowing lake or pool water while swimming
  • and touching animals zoos
  • undercooked meat particularly beef
  • raw vegetables, sprouts, and fruits that were grown or washed in contaminated water

 

How Is E. Coli Treated?

For a typical E. coli infection, treatment mostly consists of hydration including water or electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte. IV fluids may be required for those who are unable to keep liquids down.

Precautions to prevent E. coli

While everyone is at risk for contracting E. Coli infection infants, young children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems are at the highest risk for serious illness. There are some precautions you can take to minimize the risk of infection:

Wash your hands thoroughly whenever you use the bathroom, change diapers and especially before you prepare or eat food. It is also prudent to wash your hands thoroughly after playing with your pets or any other animals and their environment.

Furthermore you should always:

  • Cook your meat thoroughly especially ground beef
  • Avoid raw or unpasteurized milk, cheeses or other dairy products and unpasteurized fruit juices or ciders.
  • Avoid swallowing water when swimming anywhere in a local pool, lake or river
  • Always wash cooking surfaces, such as cutting boards, and utensils thoroughly with hot water and soap after cutting or preparing any type of raw meat

 

 

Disclaimer:
This information was harvested from several current news sources such as the Guardian, BBC News,  The Washington Post, The Irish Times.com, and the Times of India. It is completely the opinion of the webmaster. You should confirm these details with other sources and should you become infected, visit your local medical professional for treatment and advice.

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