Escherichia Coli : Coli ( Coli )

2. Why do you think Mrs. Garner's students did not become ill, while Ms. Hines' kids did?

Escherichia coli, or better known as E. Coli, is one of the most commonly studied single-cell organisms because it is easier to manipulate and it is abundant. Some E. Coli strains can be pathogenic, but most are harmless. They can help benefit digestive health by filling niches in place of more harmful microorganisms. Because it is a diverse group of related microorganisms, it can be difficult to find the boundaries defining the species. Some strains are natural while others are genetically created in labs, which can be observed in aspects of an organism (Schussler).

In ground beef you can get E. coli because they slaughter the cow and then the E. coli from there intestine gets on the ground meat and they mix the meat and then that gives it a higher risk of spreading it.(Staff Mayo Clinic) In unpasteurized milk it comes from the udder of the cow and then it gets into the milk. (Staff Mayo Clinic) In fresh food it comes from the farms that can contaminate the farm. The most vulnerable to this is lettuce and spinach. (Staff Mayo Clinic) In contaminated water there can be E. coli because it untreated and there is feces in it.(Staff Mayo Clinic) Also personal contact which means that adults can give it to their kids because they do not wash their hands after using the bathroom.(Staff Mayo Clinic) Also it passed in restaurants because cooks or people working back their do not wash their hands. E. coli causes the hemolytic-urine syndrome, which is a blood and kidney disease in children. It can also cause Uninary tract infections and bladder infections or it can lead to sepsis. There is another cause Thrombotic thrombocytopenic Purpura. This is a rare blood disease. It causes clots to form in small blood vessels throughout the body. This usually causes through the infectious parts of E. coli.

Escherichia coli are rod shaped, gram negative bacteria often found in the gut of humans and other warm-blooded mammals (Jacques & Ngo, 2004). It is transmitted primarily through faecal contaminated food and water. Most strains of E. coli are not harmful to humans, however some strains are pathogenic and can cause symptoms including diarrhoea (Unknown, 2012).

BACKGROUND – E. coli is a food-borne bacterium that inhabits the bowels of warm blooded creatures such as humans and animals. If the individual is infected by E. coli, some symptoms can be “diarrhea, gas, abdominal cramping, fatigue, fever and vomiting.” (Pietrangelo”) If someone is infected with this bacterium, anti-biotics, which is explained by Oxford Dictionaries as “A medicine (such as penicillin or its derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms” can successfully treat the disease if it is outside of the digestive tract.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes 73,000 illnesses in the United States annually. A review of E. coli O157 outbreaks reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand its epidemiology. E. coli O157 outbreaks revealed that in that period, 49 states reported 350 outbreaks, representing 8,598 cases, 1,493 (17%) hospitalizations, 354 (4%) hemolytic uremic syndrome cases, and 40 (0.5%) deaths. Clinical laboratories began examining more stool specimens for E. coli O157. In 1994, E. coli O157 became a nationally notifiable infection, and by 2000, reporting was mandatory in 48 states. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was first recognized as a pathogen in 1982 during an outbreak investigation of hemorrhagic colitis.

E. Coli is both a necessary bacteria in the human digestive tract and a very harmful toxin

Escherichia Coli, located in one of the main organs known as the large intestine, is a type of bacteria that helps digestion. (Trzepacz, Timmons, and Duobinis-Gray, 2016) For Escherichia Coli to remain stable and alive, it needs specific necessities. These needs are known as the following: Energy, vitamins, and similar compounds. Escherichia Coli is found everywhere!

As Schlosser proves with his alluring facts, E. Coli is one of the most popular infections to be recognized throughout the nation. With his in-depth research, he provides the stories of the average everyday American who has been infected or passed away with such a horrid disease. Furthermore, Ingrid Abboud, from nittygriddy.com states, “Studies revealed 50% of fountain drink dispensers were found to be contaminated with fecal bacteria”.

E. coli is a bacterium capable of being transmitted from one person to another. To ensure that the bacteria used in this experiment were not transmitted to other places, items, or organisms, several safety protocols were followed.

In June of 1997, the Michigan Department of Community Health became aware of increased reports of E.coli. Fifty-two reports of infections were reported compared to eighteen in June 1996. These results showed a significant increase in the number of cases for residents of Michigan. The cases were found to be from all different locations in Michigan, all were different ages and both male and female. Little was known about the causes of the outbreak except it occurred at a slightly higher rate in women than men. Out of the cases, thirty-eight people interviewed who had the illness, none of them consumed ground beef, milk, were in contact with farm animals, and no restaurants were in common, but they all consumed sprouts seven days before the onset of symptoms. My role as an epidemiologist for this outbreak

Every year over 96,000 people contract E.Coli, 3,200 of those people are hospitalized for E.Coli, and over 31 people die each year from E.Coli (Food News). E.Coli (otherwise known as Escherichia coli O157:H7) is a disease that is spread in many ways, the most common way being raw and uncooked food in the restaurant being served to the customer. Another way E.Coli is spread is through contact human/animal feces. E.Coli can be prevented, here are some ways to do so; Cook all meats to at least 160 degrees fahrenheit, wash your hands with warm water and soap (especially after touching raw meats), wash off all kitchen supplies thoroughly, use only pasteurized dairy and juice products, use/drink treated water, If you travel to another country that may have unsafe water don’t use tap or ice water, avoid raw fruits and veggies (Web MD).

Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been found as one of the most common causes of both outbreaks of human diarrheal disease in North America and throughout the world. Major outbreaks happened over the world, and 70% to 80% of sporadic cases of classic hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) reported in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Japan have been found associated with E coli O157:H7 infections (Boyce, Swerdlow et al. 1995). Also the other diseases including mild diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that E. coli causes approximately 73,000 illnesses and more than 60 deaths per year in the United State. (Woodward 2002) The cost of treatment for infections caused by consume VTEC contaminated produce is about $38 billion in average per year in the US due to the increase of foodborne illness associate with produce.

One of the most major and deadly outbreaks of E.coli in the world happened in the small rural town of Walkerton, Ontario, Canada in 2000. The cause of the illness was from the town’s local water supply. Even though tap water contains chlorine and undergoes many treatments, out breaks can still occur. This horrendous waterborne illness caused seven deaths and more than 2300 illnesses over six months.

Escherichia coli are commonly found in lower intestine of warm blooded animals. Most E. coli are harmless. The bacteria can be grown easily and its genetics are relatively simple and easy to study, making it the best-studied prokaryotic organism. Certain strains of E. coli can produce toxins that can cause food poisoning when eating unwashed vegetables. (Wikipedia, 2010)