1. Don't Eat That: Things You Should Know about E.coli
Zaneta Moss
July 18, 2009
PUBH
Dr. Jalal Ghaemghami
Welcome everyone and thank you for coming to this presentation. Today I will be discussing the bacterium, E.coli, and some of it’s strains that can cause severe illness and even death when digested. I chose to inform you all about E.coli because of recent outbreaks and how easy it is to become infected. Just as easy as it is to become infected, it is also easy to prevent. I know that you all must get back to your daily schedules so I will try to keep it brief.

2. What Is E.coli?
E.coli or Escherichia coli is described as a “large, diverse group of bacteria” (CDC, 2009)
Escherichia coli is the scientific name for E.coli. E.coli is bacteria that naturally exist in the intestines and it usually harmless to the body. You might ask what is a bacteria? “Bacteria are single-celled organisms” (Johnson, 2008). Bacteria receive what they need to survive from their environment. Bacteria that cause illness is called pathogenic bacteria. “Pathogenic bacteria get the materials they need from living cells, damaging or killing the cells in the process” (Johnson, 2008). There are multiple strains of E.coli (CDC, 2009).

3. Dr. Theodor Escherichia
Escherichia coli or E.coli is name after Dr. Theodor Escherichia who was the first to discover it in 1885 ( Tador, 2008). Most of the E.coli infections are caused by the toxin Shiga (CDC 2009).

4. Reservoirs Cattle, Deer Humans Raw vegetables, sprouts, fruit Water
E. coli can spread from person to person or from consuming meat such as ground beef, drinking contaminated water, or eating contaminated vegetables and fruit. “Bacteria can get accidentally mixed into ground beef before packaging” (CDC 2009). Also eating ground beef that has not been cook thoroughly. Not properly washing hands after using the restroom or changing a baby’s diaper can spread the bacteria (CDC 2009). “It can get in the drinking water, lakes, and swimming pools that have sewage in them” (CDC 2009). Consuming raw vegetables, sprouts, and fruits that has been grown or washed in the bacteria contaminated water (CDC 2009).

5. Signs and Symptoms Bloody diarrhea Abdominal cramps
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
E.coli can affect anyone at any age. Most people experience bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Hemolytic uremic syndrome usually occurs in children and the elderly population. Hemolytic uremic syndrome destroys red blood cells and cause the kidneys to fail (Georgia Department of Community Health, 2007). HUS is the major of kidney failure in children in the United States (Georgia Department of Community Health, 2007). “E.coli has a incubation period of 2 to 8 days” (Georgia Department of Community Health, 2007). Infected adults can transmit the bacteria for up to one week of their infection and children up to three weeks (Georgia Department of Community Health, 2007).

6. Treatment
There is no known treatment specially for E.coli infections. Usually the infection has to run its course. If dehydration occurs fluid and electrolytes replacement is needed. Also antibiotics will be needed if someone develops HUS. Contact your doctor for treatment (Georgia Department of Community Health, 2007).

7. E. Coli in the News Beef from JBS Swift Beef Company(July 2009)
Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough (June 2009)
Whenever there are multiple people ill from different areas there is usually a public announcement made to inform more people and to advise people not to buy contaminated products. The two listed outbreaks are the more recent of E.coli. “On June 24, FSIS issued a notice about a recall of 41,280 pounds of beef products from JBS Swift Beef Company that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7” (
CDC, 2009). By the June 28, the recall included 380, 000 pounds (CDC 2009). It was found that 23 people form 9 different states were infected. This was found through DNA testing. Most of the people had consumed undercooked ground beef. Twelve people had to be hospitalized and two developed HUS (CDC 2009).
With the Nestle Toll House case, it was found that 72 persons were ill from 30 states. This was discovered on June 30, The infected persons ranged from ages 2 to 65 years old and most had consumed raw cookie dough. Of the ill persons 34 had to be hospitalized and 10 developed HUS.
In the both cases the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collaborated with United States Food and Drug Administration and United States Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (CDC 2007).

8. Things You Can Do
During an outbreak: Carefully follow instructions provided by public health officials on what foods to avoid in order to protect yourself and your family from infection.
Cook all ground beef thoroughly. During an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, vegetables should be boiled for at least 1 minute before serving.
Cook ground beef to 160° F Test the meat by putting a food thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Do not eat ground beef that is still pink in the middle (CDC, 2009).
On the next three slides I am going to inform you all about some recommendations given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent E. coli infection. Most of these recommendations deal with the handling, preparing, and cooking of ground beef.
If an outbreaks occurs, it is important to pay attention. Many times the daily news report include vital information about the outbreak such as what food is the cause, the brand name, shipment information, and which store carries the specific product

9. Things You Can Do
If a restaurant serves you an under-cooked hamburger, send it back for more cooking. Ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too.
Don’t spread bacteria in your kitchen. Keep raw meat away from other foods. Wash your hands, cutting board, counter, dishes, and knives and forks with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat, spinach, greens, or sprouts.
Never put cooked hamburgers or meat on the plate they were on before cooking. Wash the meat thermometer after use (CDC, 2009).
I want to stress how important is to make sure when preparing and cooking food there is no cross contamination. When dealing with raw meat be sure to separate that from the rest of the food. Also be prepared to wash your hands often you may want to leave the faucet so that a small stream runs constantly. Doing this can prevent you from leaving bacteria on the faucet knobs.

10. Things You Can Do
Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, or cider. Frozen juice or juice sold in boxes and glass jars at room temperature has been pasteurized, although it may not say so on the label.
Drink water from safe sources like municipal water that has been treated with chlorine, wells that have been tested or bottled water.
Do not swallow lake or pool water while you are swimming (CDC, 2009).

11. Get More Info
USDA Cooking ground beef safely –
CDC Escherichia coli O157:H7 fact sheet –
E. coli outbreaks-
Foodborne Illness-
On this slide I have provided websites where you can get additional information on E.coli. Please visit these websites for they can give you more information and provide current information on recent outbreaks. Are there any questions? I hope you have enjoyed the presentation today and received some valuable information on E.coli. -

12. Reference
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). (2009). E.coli. Retrieved July 18, 2009 from
Todar, Kenneth. (2008). Pathogenic E.coli. Todar’s Online Textbook of Bacteriology. Retrieved July18, 2009 from
Johnson, M. D. (2008). Human Biology: Concepts and Current Issues (4th Ed.). San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Georgia Department of Community Health. (2007). E. coli O157 and other Shiga-toxin producing E. coli fact sheet. Retrieved July 18, 2009 from