Overview
Escherichia coli, also called E. coli, bacteria live in the intestines of people and animals. Most types of E. coli cause no harm or mild illness. But a few strains, such as E. coli O157:H7, can cause bad stomach cramps, bloody loose stools and vomiting, called diarrheal infection.
People can get E. coli diarrheal infection from tainted water or food, mainly raw vegetables and ground beef that isn't cooked through. Adults with no other health concerns most often get better within a week. Young children and older adults have more risk of getting a life-threatening form of kidney failure.
Symptoms
Symptoms of E. coli diarrheal infection most often begin 3 to 4 days after contact with the bacteria. But symptoms can start as soon as one day after contact. Or they can begin more than a week later. Symptoms of E. coli diarrheal infection may include:
- Loose stools, which may range from mild to serious and from watery to bloody.
- Stomach cramping, pain or tenderness.
- Upset stomach and vomiting.
When to see a doctor
Contact a healthcare professional if you have loose stools for more than two days or your stools are bloody.
Causes
Only a few strains of E. coli cause loose stools. These strains make a strong toxin that harms the lining of the small intestine. You get this type of E. coli infection by eating or drinking something with these strains of the bacteria. You also can get E. coli from contact with a person or an animal with the bacteria.
Tainted food
One way to get an E. coli infection is by eating tainted food, such as:
- Ground beef. When cattle are killed and turned into meat, E. coli bacteria in their intestines can get on the meat. Ground beef has meat from more than one animal. This raises the risk of E. coli infection.
- Raw milk. E. coli bacteria on a cow's udder or on milking machines can get into raw milk. You can get an E. coli infection if the milk isn't treated to kill germs. Milk that is treated to kill germs is called pasteurized.
- Fresh produce. Runoff from cattle farms can taint fields where fruits and vegetables grow. Some vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, are more likely to have the bacteria.
Tainted water
Human and animal stool may taint ground and surface water. This includes streams, rivers, lakes and water used to grow crops. Although public water systems use chlorine, ultraviolet light or ozone to kill E. coli, some E. coli outbreaks have been linked to tainted city water supplies. Some people have been infected with E. coli after swimming in pools or lakes tainted with stool.
Personal contact
E. coli bacteria can go from person to person, mainly when infected adults and children don't wash their hands well. Family members of young children with E. coli infection are likely to get it themselves. Outbreaks also have happened among children who visit petting zoos or animal barns at county fairs.
Risk factors
E. coli can affect anyone who has contact with the bacteria. But some people are more likely to get ill than others are. Risk factors include:
- Age. Young children and older adults are at higher risk of getting ill from E. coli and having serious complications from the infection.
- A weakened immune system. People who have weakened immune systems are more likely to become ill from E. coli. AIDS and medicines to treat cancer or keep the body from rejecting organ transplants can weaken the immune system.
- Eating certain types of food. Foods more likely to cause E. coli infection include hamburger that isn't cooked well enough; raw milk, apple juice or cider that isn't treated, called unpasteurized; and soft cheeses made from raw milk.
- Less stomach acid. Stomach acid helps protect against E. coli. If you take medicines to lower the amount of acid in your stomach, you may raise your risk of an E. coli infection. Medicines include esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec).
Complications
For some people with certain strains of E. coli, a complication of E. coli infection is a life-threatening form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. Young children and older adults are at higher risk.
Prevention
To lower your chance of having contact with E. coli, do the following:
- Don't swallow water from lakes or pools.
- Wash your hands often.
- Don't eat risky foods.
- Don't spread germs from one surface to another, called cross-contamination.
Don't eat risky foods
- Cook hamburgers fully. Make sure hamburgers are well done, with no pink showing. But remember that color doesn't tell you if the meat is cooked through. Meat, especially if grilled, can brown before it's fully cooked. Use a meat thermometer to make sure that meat is heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) at its thickest point.
- Drink pasteurized milk, juice and cider. Any boxed or bottled juice kept at room temperature is likely to be treated to kill germs, called pasteurized. This is true even if the label doesn't say so. Don't use dairy products or juice that isn't pasteurized.
- Wash fruits and vegetables well. Washing produce may not get rid of all E. coli. This is especially true of leafy greens, which have many places where germs can hide. Rinsing well can remove dirt and lessen the amount of bacteria that may be on the produce.
Don't spread germs from one surface to another
- Wash utensils. Use hot, soapy water on knives, counters and cutting boards before and after they have contact with fresh produce or raw meat.
- Keep raw foods apart from others. This includes using separate cutting boards for raw meat and foods such as vegetables and fruits. Don't put cooked hamburgers on the same plate you used for raw patties.
- Wash your hands. Wash your hands before making or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Make sure that children also wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom and after touching animals.