how is e-coli spread and what are the sources of contamination?

Answer 1

E Coli is spread by the "F's." F for fomite, finger, fecal...etc. Fomite is any inanimate object which carries the bacteria; for example, you used a fork that a person with E. Coli used. An example of finger is when you are handling uncooked hamburger patties and rub your eye or nose (most ground beef have some E. Coli but it is killed during the cooking process). An example of fecal, you are eating at a resturant and one of the employees, who is infected with E. Coli, goes to the bathroom and forgets to wash his hands before preparing your food. Basically, you can contract E. Coli through ingestion or exposure to the mucus membranes (i.e. eyes, nose and mouth).

Answer 2

E. coli is spread by contamination of food with fecal material, both human and animal. It can show up in cider if birds have pooped on the apples and they weren't sufficiently cleaned. It is common in ground beef because of animal contamination in the slaughterhouse. It appeared in raw sprouts once and I don't think the cause was ever discovered. They're not sure where the spinach outbreak came from either. Sometimes the cause might be employees not washing their hands after using the toilet. Usually E. coli is killed by heat, which is why you are advised to cook your burgers to 160 F.

Answer 3

E-coli can be spread by eating contaminated food. The bacteria live in the intestines of healthy cattle and contamination of the meat may occur during the slaughtering process. Eating meat that is rare, or that is under cooked is the most common way of getting the infection. It can be transmited by people, especially in child care settings, if infected people do not wash their hands after using the toilet or diapering children. Drinking contaminated water and swimmig in contaminated shallow lakes can cause an infection.

Answer 4

E. Coli is a bacteria found in fecal matter that comes from the intestines. It lives in the intestines of everyone. The problem is that when you ingest undercooked foods, you get e. coli that your body isn't used to, or you simply get too much e. coli and it makes you sick.

Your food gets contaminated when an intestine is cut open during the butchering process. Of course, if you cook your meat well, it's not a problem. In the case of the spinach, it likely came from natural fertilizers. Even with spinach, if you cook it, the e. coli will die.

Answer 5

E. coli is eaten because it is attached to or inside the food we eat such as spinach or hamburger. See the attached for all the details.

Answer 6

It's spread thru un cooked food, such as chicken, beef, anything like that. you can get it from eating not completely cooked food that is contaminated.

Answer 7

I only know how it is contaminated by unproper cleaning of pesticides and urinal of a living species. That's why farmers or the spinach company is getting sued for because they are still selling spinach (sadly).

Answer 8

unwashed hands and foods and it comes from the bowels, Poo