E. Coli

E. coli infection is caused by a group of bacteria called Escherichia coli. These bacteria are found worldwide, including in New Brunswick. They live in the intestines of infected people and animals and are spread through feces. The bacteria can be found in soil or water and on surfaces that have been contaminated by people or animal feces. There are many strains of E. coli. Some strains can cause gastrointestinal infections and other illness in humans – therefore they are called “pathogenic.”

Diagnosis of infection is based on assessment of clinical symptoms by a health-care provider and laboratory testing of a stool sample. 

Symptoms usually appear within three to four days after a person is infected. Most people who become ill have frequent diarrhea and stomach cramps and the diarrhea is often bloody. Symptoms usually last five to 10 days. In some people, serious illness can develop.

E. coli bacteria are passed through the feces from infected persons and animals. The bacteria can be found in soil, food, water or on surfaces contaminated with feces. The bacteria are spread by person-to-person contact, animal-to-person contact, by eating contaminated food or by drinking contaminated water. 

Most cases are associated with improperly handling raw meat or eating undercooked meat or poultry. Usually, meat becomes contaminated during the slaughtering and butchering of cattle. Other foods such as raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, unpasteurized milk and milk products and unpasteurized apple juice/cider can become contaminated. 

Some examples of how the bacteria can be spread include: 

• beef (usually inadequately cooked hamburgers or foods contaminated with raw and undercooked meat juices)
• not washing hands after direct contact with animals in their environment
• drinking contaminated water
• swimming or bathing in contaminated water

Anyone exposed to pathogenic E. coli can become infected. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of developing infection and experiencing serious disease. Occasionally, E. coli can cause a serious, sometimes fatal illness called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). 

People with diarrhea should drink plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration, stay home when ill and practice good personal hygiene like hand washing. Consult your health-care provider for advice and treatment, especially if you have bloody or severe diarrhea.

Health-care providers and laboratories must report cases of pathogenic strains of E. coli to Public Health. Public Health staff then interview the patient (or caregivers) to find out how the infection occurred, identify other people who may be at risk of infection from the same source, implement control measures and provide other advice as necessary, including exclusion of infected workers in high-risk occupations like persons involved in food handling, direct patient care and care of the young such as child daycare or the elderly. As a control measure, infected children participating in daycare may also be requested to be excluded. 

Use good environmental management. Flush or discard any stool in the toilet and clean surrounding area using hot water and detergent. A chlorine-based disinfectant is recommended. 

Practice good personal hygiene. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the toilet or changing a diaper, after handling animals or contact with animal feces, after handling raw meats and before preparing or eating food. 

Take food safety precautions. Wash or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating. Thoroughly cook all meats (meat, poultry and seafood). Prevent contact of cooked foods with raw poultry and other meat. Drink and eat only pasteurized dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream). 

Drink properly treated water. Avoid swallowing recreational waters from swimming pools and hot tubs. Do not drink untreated surface water from lakes or streams. Boiling your water for one minute will kill all known pathogens like cryptosporidium or E. coli. Test your private well drinking water twice per year for presence of bacteria. An E. coli bacteria test is used as an indicator for fecal contamination in drinking water.

For additional information, contact your health-care provider, local Public Health office or Tele-Care 811.