Cooking meat, poultry and seafood to a safe internal temperature kills many types of bacteria that can give you food poisoning, such as E. coli and salmonella. However, some types of bacteria that can make you sick are not killed by normal cooking...
The term gram-positive in relation to bacteria refers to the ability for the bacterial cell to uptake a gram stain into the cell wall. A gram-positive bacteria can take up the gram stain due to the large peptidoglycan cell wall, which absorbs the...
Clostridium is a rod-shaped bacteria commonly found in soil as well as the gut of humans and animals. They are known as obligate anaerobes, which means they cannot grow in the presence of oxygen. The organism is able to survive in harsh...
Most bacteria coexist with humans without harm. However, some bacterial species cause severe infection with potentially disabling or life-threatening consequences. Disease-causing bacteria are termed pathogens. The bacteria Neisseria meningitidis,...
Food poisoning occurs after consumption of a contaminated food product containing either bacteria, toxins produced by growing bacteria, a virus, or parasites. Contamination of food can happen at any time throughout production, including handling...
Food poisoning refers to a gastrointestinal illness caused by food contaminated with viruses, parasites, toxins or bacteria. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports the most common bacteria that cause food poisoning include...
Bacteria are ubiquitous microorganisms found on our skin, in the air, under the soil and even in food we eat. Bacterial strains that occur in food can be either harmless, beneficial or pathogenic. Pathogenic bacteria are harmful microorganisms...
Corned beef and cabbage has been used for years to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but if you cook it well and trim it properly, it can make a healthy dish at any time and provide leftovers to fill sandwiches. Re-heating this dish can be difficult,...
Turkey can become contaminated with various food-borne pathogens. Among the most common are campylobacter, salmonella, Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli, or E. coli. Any one of these pathogens could spread throughout the turkey and make...
The Clostridium species are unique among many bacteria as they produce spores that allow them to survive in the environment for prolonged periods and under harsh conditions. The clostridia are anaerobic bacteria, which are found ubiquitously in...
Gangrene is the medical term for the death of tissue as a result of lost blood supply. Gangrene can affect any area of the body, including limbs, skin and internal organs. Common symptoms of gangrene include a discoloration of the affected area,...
Gangrene is a medical condition that refers to tissue death that occurs as the result of blood supply loss. Gangrene can develop in any area of the body, including internal organs, skin and limbs. Common symptoms of gangrene include severe pain,...
An open wound is a break in the structure of an organ or tissue. It is usually caused by something that is outside the body and it mostly affects the skin. Wounds include minor cuts, scrapes or puncture wounds. According to University of Maryland...
Avelox is the brand name for the generic drug moxifloxacin. This medication is a type of fluoroquinolone antibiotic that interferes with bacterial replication and growth within the body. Patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, under the age of...
Diarrhea is a symptom that can lead to dehydration and lowered potassium levels (hypokalemia). Sometimes, an infection can infiltrate the gastrointestinal system and lead to acute (short-lived) diarrhea. Fortunately, the causes of acute diarrhea...
Gangrene refers to the death and decay of tissues resulting from an interruption of blood flow caused by a bacterial infection. Gangrene most commonly occurs in the extremities, including fingers, toes and limbs, but may occur in muscles and...
The Cleveland Clinic defines acute or sudden onset, diarrhea as loose watery stool that occurs more times a day than normal for less than 14 days. Adults in the United States experience at least 99 million episodes of acute diarrhea each year. The...
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the deep layers of the skin, most commonly caused by the bacterium group A streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. The legs and face prove the most common sites of cellulitis. An abscess is a localized area...
Flesh-eating disease, which is also known as a necrotizing soft tissue infection, is the result of a bacterial infection. Bacteria that cause these infections secrete chemicals that rapidly break down the surrounding skin, muscle and connective...
The 24-hour flu, also called a 24-hour virus, commonly appears and is over in about one day, unlike a full-blown case of influenza which can last from seven to 10 days. The 24-hour virus attacks the stomach and intestines and--in some people--can...
Camping means enjoying nature and the outdoors. Plan your meals and food you want to bring ahead of time to make your trip a success. While cooking outdoors can be one of the highlights of camping, it can also be the most dangerous. Take the right...
If you have peripheral artery disease or peripheral neuropathy, a loss of sensation in your lower extremities, or diabetes, you are at risk for developing gangrene. The term critical limb ischemia is used when gangrene occurs due to peripheral...
Bacteria are microscopic organisms that live in the air, soil and water, on surfaces, and in and on the human body. They are the smallest free-living organisms, meaning they support their own growth and reproduction. These organisms are only about...
Ricotta is a soft cheese that commonly shows up in Italian cooking, both in sweet and savory dishes. Its lumpy texture and high liquid content make it difficult to discern when the cheese starts to spoil. Apply several strategies to prevent...
Gangrene is the medical term for tissue death caused when blood supply to an area of the body is lost because of injury, infection or blood vessel disease. Gangrene is divided into two types, dry and wet. Dry gangrene is caused by blood vessel...
Many of the foods we eat contain the microbes responsible for food poisoning. If you give these microbes a favorable environment, they will multiply until enough are present to cause symptoms of food poisoning. You can prevent food poisoning by...
Food poisoning cases range from mild to severe depending on factors such as age, health of the individual and classifications of the food poison. General symptoms include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, loss of...
Thousands of kinds of bacteria are present in the environment naturally. When certain pathogens enter the food supply and are ingested, they can cause food-borne illness. Most cases of food-borne illness can be prevented with proper food handling...
Approximately 100 million Americans have acute diarrhea every year. An estimated 250,000 need to be hospitalized as a result and 5,000 people die, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Severe cases of diarrhea can be serious,...
