E coli 0157

E. coli 0157 is an infectious illness which can be food or water borne. It is recognised initially by the symptoms. These can range from mild diarrhoea to severe bloody diarrhoea with abdominal pain. These symptoms can last for up to 2 weeks. In some extreme cases serious problems can occur including kidney failure.

It is caused by the E. coli bacteria entering the body through the mouth usually from unwashed hands and infected food or drink. Only very low numbers of the bacteria need to be consumed to cause illness. Possible routes of the infection are:

• eating undercooked meat, particularly minced meat, often in the form of burgers or sausages
  
  
• drinking raw (green top) milk or treated milk that has become contaminated after it has been pasteurized
  
  
• contact with streams, ponds and similar watercourses
  
  
• drinking unchlorinated water, and
  
  
• infection from pets and farm animals

Hands, kitchen surfaces and cooking utensils such as chopping boards and knives can become contaminated when preparing raw meat. If not properly washed and disinfected afterwards they can transfer bacteria on to other foods. If these foods do not require further cooking before being eaten (a process that would normally kill off bacteria) this could cause food poisoning.

It can also be spread from person to person, both in families and in institutions such as schools, nursing and residential homes.

Precautionary measures

• Thorough hand washing is vital:
  
  
• before preparing or serving food or drink
• after handling pets or their food bowls, and
• after handling raw meat
  
  
• Avoid swallowing water when participating in water sports
  
  
• Ensure good personal hygiene during farm visits or contact with farm animals
  
  
• Only drink mains or treated water and make sure that the water tank in your loft is covered to stop birds getting in
  
  
• Do not drink untreated (green top) milk
  
  
• Keep all perishable foods in a fridge separating raw meat from other foods
  
  
• Ensure frozen foods are properly thawed before cooking
  
  
• Ensure foods are cooked thoroughly. Barbecues can be a particular problem
  
  
• Burgers should be cooked until the juices run clear and there is no pink meat inside
  
  
• Keep kitchen surfaces and utensils clean. Wash and disinfect chopping boards and knives used to prepare raw meat with a detergent and sanitiser after each use
  
  
• Don't let pets or other animals in the kitchen when preparing food. Do not wash pets' food bowls with the family dishes

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for this particular illness and the most appropriate medication will depend upon the symptoms being suffered. Your doctor will be able to advise you what is most appropriate in your case.

It may be necessary to collect specimens of faeces for further analysis.

An Environmental Health Officer will visit and decide who needs to supply specimens. Special boxes and bottles will be left which may be collected or taken to the laboratory at Noble's Hospital as soon as the specimen has been provided. Your help will reduce the risk of spreading the illness to others.