Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections

1. What are enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections?

　Escherichia coli bacteria are present even in the intestines of domestic animals and humans, and most of them are harmless. But among them, pathogenic Escherichia coli has a toxin that causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. O-157 is known as a representative enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. In the summer, when food poisoning occurs frequently, the risk of infection naturally increases, but the infection can occur even in the cold season. So, caution must be taken all year round.

2. Symptoms

　Stomachache and watery diarrhea occur after a symptom-free period of about four to eight days after infection. Patients could also have vomiting and high fever in the 38 degree C range.

3. Tips to prevent infection

(1) A basic prevention measure is hand washing. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water before cooking and meals as well as after using the toilet and changing diapers.
(2) It is said that the bacteria die if they are heated at 75 degrees C for one minute or more, so when cooking, heat the food thoroughly until the inside is sufficiently heated, and eat the cooked food as soon as possible.
(3) Wash cooking utensils thoroughly to prevent cooked food from being contaminated with bacteria.
(4) When grilling meat, use separate chopsticks or tongs for handling raw meat and do not mix them with chopsticks for eating.
(5) People with weak resistance, such as infants and the elderly, are at high risk of becoming seriously ill, so they should especially take care not to eat raw or undercooked meat.
(6) In households with patients, carefully handle underwear and other items contaminated with feces.