| li along with many other fungi, viruses, and protozoa | | | | with hemolytic uremic syndrome. Symptoms of E. coli |
| can contaminate food or water and cause | | | | infection are abdominal cramping and diarrhea. |
| gastrointestinal illnesses characterized by vomiting, | | | | Vomiting can also occur. Most attacks last from one |
| abdominal cramping and diarrhea. The organisms are | | | | to three days. Severe bouts may require a doctor's |
| easily ingested, as there is no way to identify their | | | | intervention. As with any type of diarrhea, patients |
| presence. There is no particular taste or smell | | | | should drink plenty of liquids to replace the lost bodily |
| common to the infected food and water. These | | | | fluids. In severe cases, a physician may prescribe a |
| bacteria are present in the intestinal tracts of animals. | | | | hydration solution. |
| There are more than 700 serotypes of E. coli but not | | | | However, the best treatment is prevention and |
| all are dangerous. Some are actually beneficial to | | | | these infections can be prevented by observing strict |
| humans. Only the ones that produce the Shiga toxin | | | | sanitary measures. If meat is cooked to an internal |
| contaminate food. | | | | temperature of 160 degrees, the harmful bacteria are |
| The Shiga toxin is so potent that it has been listed as | | | | killed and the meat is safe to eat. Meat purchased at |
| a potential anti-terrorist agent. It has several | | | | the grocery store should never be out of the |
| characteristics that make it dangerous. It can live on | | | | refrigerator for more than two hours in mild climates |
| kitchen counter tops for weeks and can survive for | | | | and an hour in tropic climates. Cooked foods and |
| a year in certain types of materials. Only a tiny | | | | leftovers should be promptly refrigerated. |
| number of them need to infect a person to cause | | | | Refrigerators should be kept at 40 degrees and |
| illness. According to the Centers for Disease | | | | freezers at zero degrees Food handlers should |
| Control and Prevention, at least 2000 Americans are | | | | always wash their hands prior to preparing food. |
| hospitalized annually and 60 die from these infections. | | | | Counter tops should be swabbed with an agent |
| Just recently, Great Britain closed several petting | | | | known to kill the bacteria. Dishcloths and sponges |
| zoos due to an outbreak of E. coli. And in June and | | | | need to be soaked in a bleach solution. They can also |
| July, hamburger meat and unrefrigerated cookie | | | | be sanitized by placing them in a microwave for one |
| dough were recalled in the United States due to | | | | minute at full power. |
| contamination with this pathogen. | | | | Adults should see that children wash their hands after |
| Infections can also cause hemolytic uremic syndrome | | | | using the toilet and after petting or having contact |
| that can result in complete kidney failure. This | | | | with animals. And they should always be taught to |
| happens when the organisms escape from the | | | | wash their hands just before eating. But, as one |
| intestinal tract and attack the kidneys and red blood | | | | British official stated after the outbreak at the |
| cells. Of the eighty people who became ill after | | | | petting zoos, children are amongst the hardest to |
| consuming the cookie dough, ten were hospitalized | | | | teach hand washing. |