All about E.coli O157:H7, a harmful strain of Coliform bacteria Presented by: Mansoor Jehangir (for CE599 Seminar)

COLIFORM BACTERIA Coliform Bacteria are indicator organisms. Readily found in soil, decaying vegetation, animal feces, and raw surface water. May be accompanied by pathogens, but do not normally cause diseases. Most likely to survive in deep, slow moving, heavily polluted waters that lack dissolved oxygen.

COLIFORM BACTERIA Coliform Test: Total coliform test. Fecal coliform test. >Total coliform absent means water is safe to drink >Total coliform or fecal colifrom present means it s unsafe to drink (super- chlorination is needed). Will coliform bacteria make us sick? Maybe, maybe not. Some strains of E. coli are disease causing and can be fatal at times.

Escherichia (E.coli) E. coli is the abbreviated name of the bacterium in the Family Enterobacteriaceae named Escherichia (Genus) coli (Species). Widely distributed in the intestine of humans and warm-blooded animals and is the predominant facultative anaerobe in the intestine. E. coli is a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, which includes many genera, including known pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella, and Yersinia.

Escherichia (E.coli) E. Coli Bacillus anthracis Shigella sonii

Escherichia (E.coli) Innocuous E.Coli.: E. coli provide us many necessary vitamins. Bacteria make the vitamins, and we gladly absorb them. Suppresses the growth of harmful bacterial species. Source of Vitamin K and B-complex vitamins. (we help them to live, and they help us to live)

Escherichia (E.coli) Harmful strains of E.coli. Three groups of E coli are associated with diarrheal diseases. (ETEC) produces enterotoxins (damages the mucosal cells) (EIEC) cause tissue destruction and inflammation. (EPEC) enteropathogenic (associated with outbreaks of diarrhea in newborn nurseries).

Escherichia (E.coli) E. coli O157:H7 Member of the EHEC - enterohemorrhagic E. coli group. Enterohemorrhagic means an intestinally-related organism which causes hemorrhaging - and therefore, loss of blood.

Genetic formation of E. coli O157:H7 Escherichia (E.coli) Genetic formation of E. coli O157:H7 Cells infected with a bacterial virus. Ability of virus to insert its DNA into bacteria’s Chromosome. Division of infected parent cell into daughter cells produced and spread E.coli O157:H7.

Escherichia (E.coli) E. coli O157:H7 What illness does E. coli O157:H7 cause? Hemorrhagic colitis: Severe cramping (abdominal pain) and diarrhea which is initially watery but becomes grossly bloody. Occasionally vomiting occurs. Fever is either low-grade or absent. In children under 5 years of age, red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail (hemolytic uremic syndrome).

Escherichia (E.coli) E. coli O157:H7 How is E. coli O157:H7 spread? Eating meat, especially ground beef, that has not been cooked sufficiently to kill E.coli. Consumption of sprouts, lettuce, salami, unpasteurized milk and juice, and swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water. Bacteria in diarrheal stools of infected persons can be passed from one person to another if hygiene or hand washing habits are inadequate.

Escherichia (E.coli) E. coli O157:H7 What can we do to prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection? Cook all ground beef and hamburger thoroughly (at least 160oF). Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods. Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Avoid alfalfa sprouts until their safety can be assured. Avoid swallowing lake or pool water while swimming. Anyone with a diarrheal illness should avoid swimming in public pools or lakes, and preparing food for others.

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