E. coli is the shortened name for Escherichia coli, which is a common type of bacteria that is known to cause food-borne illness. Interestingly, not all E. coli bacteria will make you sick. In fact, there are strains of the bacteria that are normally present in the intestines of the human body, where they assist in the break down and digestion of food. However, there are other strains of the bacteria that can migrate from the intestines to the blood. Although this is fairly uncommon, when this happens, it can cause a very serious infection.
Some of the common symptoms of an E. coli infection are as follows: severe stomach cramps and pain, vomiting, and diarrhea sometimes with blood in it.
E. coli infections can be passed from person to person, but more commonly they are caused by food contaminated with the bacteria. Foods that are frequent contributors to E. coli infections are: undercooked ground beef, non-pasteurized fruit juice (pasteurization is a heating process that is used to kill germs), or vegetables that are grown in cow manure or washed in contaminated water.
An important take-home message is that heat kills E. coli, so cooking ground beef all the way through, until there is no pink remaining is a good way to reduce the risk of infection. Also, choosing pasteurized juice over unpasteurized juice helps to reduce the risk of infection. It is wise to always thoroughly wash all fresh vegetable prior to eating them. It is also important to clean all counter tops and surfaces that have come in contact with raw meat. Of course, since E. coli is transmitted from feces-to-mouth, it is extremely important to always wash your hands after going to the restroom. All of the practices will help to dramatically reduce the risk of you or your family members getting an E. coli infection.
