Weekly Wellness News

January 15, 2007

Feature: Escherichia Coli

Last year, there was another E. coli scare in the United States. We hear about these outbreaks on occasion, but the reports do little to educate people about E. coli. What is it? How does it spread? What is the danger? These are the questions I decided to find answers to this week.

E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacteria that is found in the lower intestine of all mammals, and is normal in people. It is entirely safe as long as it doesn't spread to other parts of the body. This bacteria ferments lactose, and is one of the producers of gas and flatulence in the digestive process.

Because it is found in the lower intestine, E. coli is eliminated with feces, and this is the source of most contamination. In fact, since it is found in all feces, measurement of E. coli levels has been used as a reliable indication of water pollution or purity for over 100 years.

Infection occurs when E. coli is introduced to areas of the body where it doesn't belong. The most common way it is spread is through the handling of raw meat. Proper cooking of meat and proper cleaning of preparation surfaces is sufficient to prevent infection or further spreading. Large outbreaks usually occur when contaminated food (often vegetables) makes it into the food distribution network.

Most infections are not serious. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain, but treatment for dehydration is usually sufficient. It is currently believed that antibiotics have no beneficial effects and may actually be harmful as a treatment for E. coli infection, and the bacteria is suspected to be currently becoming antibiotic resistant. After approximately a week the symptoms clear and the infection is gone.

Some strains, however, can be fatal. The most dangerous strain is O157:H7, the strain responsible for nationwide concerns such as the 2006 outbreak. Even this strain, however, is only fatal in about one-half of one percent of infections. Children and adults over the age of 65 account for the majority of these fatalities.

E. coli is not something to fear. Fully cook your meat, keep your kitchen clean, and wash your hands after going to the bathroom, and you should never be just fine.

Resources:

• Escherichia coli [en.wikipedia.org]
• Escherichia coli [www.answers.com]
• What is an E. coli infection? [www.webmd.com]

Other news

• No, it can't be all the pizza, it must be my genes: DNA strands might predict heart disease [www.msnbc.msn.com]
• Ummm... I'm at a loss for words: Going to college may be bad for your brain [www.msnbc.msn.com]
• So I should take Spanish in college? Study: Bilingualism can delay onset of dementia [www.msnbc.msn.com]
• From the 'History Repeats Itself' department: Parents Doubt Their Discipline of Kids Works: Study [healthday.com]

From the editor

To date, most of my focus has been on eating right and exercising; now I am going to spend a few weeks investigating what happens when things go wrong. This week is the first of several articles on common diseases and large-scale health concerns of this kind.

As always, I would like to know what you want to hear about. Use the feedback link below to contact me, and ask questions or suggest topics for review. I will try to focus on every suggestion over the coming weeks.

Healthy thoughts,
Jeff

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Copyright 2007, Jeffrey Eliasen.
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