E. coli, or Escherichia coli, is a bacteria present in the gut of humans and animals. Many strains are currently active in the digestive tract and do not usually cause symptoms other than the occasional bout of diarrhea. However, contamination of food and water supplies can lead to nasty strains that can cause severe symptoms, organ failure and death.
Contamination
Contamination is a word used to describe an unwanted constituent, in this case bacterium, that leads to instability or harm to humans or animals. E. coli is a bacteria that stems from unclean drinking water or food that contains human or animal excrement. In terms of locating the origin of a food-borne illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's main mission is to define the problem and look for similar cases. It begins with a hypothesis, or thought about how the outbreak may occur, and then proceeds with taking interviews, conducting laboratory tests and determining if connections can be made between the hypothesized problem and research findings.
Spread
E. coli begins with a contaminated food source and is then spread by poor hygiene practices. These practices can stem from poor food handling to improper hand-washing after using the restroom. With many foods, the Washington State Department of Health states that wild game can become infected before being killed, which is then passed on via uncooked meats being consumed. In relation to fruits and vegetables, the food is grown in manure that is contaminated and passed on to the consumer who may not wash the food thoroughly before eating. Dairy products and other sources that are eaten in the raw or unpasteurized state also see higher likelihood of an outbreak. When hundreds or thousands of people consume foods from the same source or eat food prepared by unclean hands, the spread can be devastating.
Symptoms and Treatment
Symptoms of E. coli include very mild cases of diarrhea or no symptoms to severe diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal cramping, blood in the stool and possibly fever. According to the Washington State Department of Health, most symptoms onset after 3 or 4 days of becoming exposed and up to two weeks. There are no age restrictions as to the development of E. coli, but the very young, those with autoimmune or deficiency problems and the elderly are most susceptible to contracting the most severe forms. In severe cases of E. coli, there can be severe diarrhea and kidney damage or death. Treatment usually involves laboratory testing, screening questionnaire to determine the source and allowing the infection to run its course, 5 to 10 days. Antibiotics are not generally prescribed as it could worsen the condition.
Long-Term Problems
Long-term complications caused by exposure to a bad strain of E. coli are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that in some cases of kidney failure, the problems will not subside. Other reports they have suggest high blood pressure, blindness and paralysis are rare but possible. Most individuals recuperate within 5 to 10 days and do not have recurring health issues related to the single incident later on.
