What causes ecoli?

Question

How do you get it??

Answer 1

Eschericia coli bacteria (abbreviated E. coli) is one of the many micro-organisms that live in the gut of mammals. E. coli is a rod-shaped bacteria that lives symbiotically (does not cause disease). E. coli produces Vitamin K which is needed for clotting of blood.

There are over 700 types (serotypes) of E. coli bacteria that are categorized based on O, H, and K antigens. Of particular concern is the serotype E. coli O157:H7 (not 0157H7). The "O" (which is a capital O, not a zero) in the name refers to the somatic antigen number, whereas the "H" refers to the flagellar antigen. (The "O" stands for ohne Hauch [Ger. “without breath”]; "H" for Hauch; and "K" for Kapsel.) Currently the number of O antigens has reached 173, K antigens 103 and H antigens 56. (Nowadays the K antigen designation is generally left off.)

The E. coli bacteria are also classified according to the severity of disease.
- ETEC enterotoxigenic (causative agent of diarrhea in humans, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, and horses)
- EPEC enteropathogenic (causative agent of diarrhea in humans, rabbits, dogs, cats and horses)
- EIEC enteroinvasive (found only in humans)
- VTEC verotoxigenic (found in pigs, cattle, dogs, and cats)
- EHEC enterohaemorrhagic (found in humans, cattle, and goats), attacking porcine strains that colonize the gut in a manner similar to human EPEC strains)
EAggEC enteroaggregative (found only in humans).


E. coli O157:H7 may live in cows, pigs, sheep and horses and not make them ill but if a human is infected, he may become seriously ill. In humans, E coli O157:H7 is classified as EHEC.

Most illness has been associated with eating under-cooked, contaminated ground beef, although it is also transmitted by person-to-person contact, produce, drinking unpasteurized milk or drinking contaminated water. Waterborne transmission occurs through swimming in contaminated lakes, or pools. Sometimes, the contamination comes from cow manure used as fertilizer. In the past, contaminated seeds, irrigation water, and flooding have contributed to E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, lettuce, spinach, parsley, strawberries and other fresh produce. In 1966 there was a large E coli O157:H7 due to unpasturized fruit juices.

Foodborne illnesses are more common that most people think. Use a brush to scrub produce with firm or rough surfaces, such as oranges, cantaloupes, potatoes and carrots. You should always soak raw fruits and vegetables in chlorinated tap water for a few minutes and rub them to get them clean. Then rinse them under running tap water before you prepare and eat them . Any bacteria left-over will be killed by cooking.

E. coli O157:H7 is also resistant to chlorine so you must soak the vegetables for around 10 minutes and use friction to rub the vegetables. The E. coli will live inside the tissues of the leaves not just on the surface.

Meat must be thoroughly cooked. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria is believed to mostly live in the intestines of cattle, but has also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, and pigs. E. coli O157:H7 does not make the animals that carry it ill; the animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria.

It takes about 2 to 8 days for a person to show signs of infection which include:
o- bloody diarrhea
o- nausea and vomiting
o- severe abdominal cramps
o- fever

Healthy adults infected with E. coli O157:H7 may recover within 5 to 10 days without treatment. The higher risk is for those with a compromised immune system, children and older adults. A serious complication is called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It leads to destruction of the red blood cells and kidney failure. About 2%-7% of infections lead to this complication. Even with the patient receiving intensive care, the death rate from hemolytic uremic syndrome can be about 3%-5%.

The CDC estimates that about 73,000 cases of E.coli related illness occur each year. And 76 million cases of other foodborne illness. As a direct result of pathogenic E. coli infections and its complications, every year 2,100 Americans are hospitalized, and 61 people die. A recent study estimated the annual cost of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to be $405 million (in 2003 dollars). Those costs that contributed to this estimate included $370 million for premature deaths, $30 million for medical care, and $5 million for lost productivity.

The virulence of E. coli O157:H7 is a result of its ability to produce Shiga-like toxins, or verotoxins. Shiga-like toxins inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and play a role in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome by causing damage to endothelial cells in the kidneys, pancreas, brain, and other organs, thus inhibiting those organs’ ability to function.

The primary mode of transmission of E. coli at agricultural fairs, petting zoos, and farm visits was previously thought to be fecal-oral – that is, by ingestion of bacteria-laden feces via contaminated food or water, or transfer by hand to mouth following contact with contaminated surfaces or animals. Conclusions reached by investigators in several recent fair-associated outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 suggest that ingestion or perhaps even inhalation of contaminated dust particles may be an additional cause of E. coli infection among fairgoers and visitors to petting zoos.

In 1994 there was an outbreak of E. coli O104:H21 in Helena, Montana which caused a less severe bloody diarrhea.

Answer 2

E. coli is a common type of bacteria that can get into food, like beef and vegetables. E. coli is short for the medical term Escherichia coli. The strange thing about these bacteria — and lots of other bacteria — is that they're not always harmful to you.
E. coli normally lives inside your intestines, where it helps your body break down and digest the food you eat. Unfortunately, certain types (called strains) of E. coli can get from the intestines into the blood. This is a rare illness, but it can cause a very serious infection.
Someone who has E. coli infection may have these symptoms:
fever and chills
bad stomach cramps and belly pain
vomiting
diarrhea, sometimes with blood in it

Answer 3

You have it in you right now. E. coli is a bacteria that is considered "normal flora" within your body. Some types of E. coli can cause you to get sick, like strain 0157H7. Different strains of E. coli have different virulence factors. But for the most part, it is not such a bad bug. Now the 0157H7 strain is normally harbored in the cow intestine, and can contaminate food that come in contact with cattle fecal mater. This can cause food poisoning.

Answer 4

by consuming food contaminated with it. It occurs naturally in your intestines doesnt belong anywhere else

Answer 5

nature...hear of bacteria? You already have some in your digestive tract. You can get it from anything that has fecal contamination.

Answer 6

Try the link below.