Download Shiga‐like toxin producing E. coli

Shiga‐liketoxinproducingE.coli
InformationforPatients
Whatkindofinfectionisit?
E.coliisabacteriathatnormallylivesintheintestinesofmostpeopleandmosttypesareharmless.
ShigatoxinproducingE.coli(STEC,sometimescalledEHEC)areE.colithatproduceapowerfultoxin
calledshigatoxinthatcausespainfulbloodydiarrhea.E.coliO157:H7isthebestknowntypeofSTEC
butthereareothertypesofSTECaswell.
Howdopeoplegetinfected?
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STECliveinthegutsofcattle,goats,sheep,deerandelk.
PeoplegenerallybecomeillaftereatingfoodcontaminatedwithSTEC.Commonsourcesinclude
undercookedgroundbeef,unpasteurized(“raw”)milk,andunpasteurizedjuices.
OtherfoodscanbecomecontaminatedwithSTECandcauseillness.Outbreakshavebeencausedby
lettuce,sproutsandothervegetables.
STECinfectionscanalsocomefromswallowingwaterinlakes,pondsorpoolsthathavebeen
contaminatedwiththebacteriabywastefromcattleorfrominfectedpeople.
STECcanspreadfromaninfectedpersontootherpeoplewhocomeincontactwiththeirstool(poop)
throughpoorhandwashing,changingdiapers,etc.
STECcaninfectpeopleofanyage.
Whataretheusualsymptoms?
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Illnessusuallystarts2‐8daysafterexposure.
Diarrheathatoftenbecomesbloody,severestomachcramps,vomiting.Feverisuncommon.Illness
canbemildorverysevere.
Howlongdoesitlast?
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Typically4‐7daysbutmaybelonger.
Howisittreated?
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Avoiddehydrationbydrinkingfluids.Warningsignsofdehydrationincludedrymouth,decreased
urination,ordizziness.
AntibioticsshouldnotbegiventopeoplewithSTECinfection.Theydonothelpdecreasethe
symptomsandmayincreasetheriskofhemolyticuremicsyndrome(HUS).Antidiarrhealmedicines
likeimmodiummayalsoincreasetheriskofHUS.
Aretherepossiblecomplications?
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About5‐10%ofpeoplewithSTECinfectiondevelopalifethreateningcomplicationcalledHUS.HUS
causeskidneyinjury,anemia(decreasedredbloodcells)andlowplatelets(abloodcellthathelps
controlbleeding).
SymptomsofHUStowatchforincludedecreasedurination,swellingaroundtheeyes,orsevere
tiredness.Bringyourchildtothedoctorifyouseeanyofthesethings.PeoplewithHUSshouldbe
hospitalizedimmediately.
MostpeoplerecoverfromHUSbutitisaseriousillnessthatcancausepermanentkidneydamage.
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Shiga‐liketoxinproducingE.coli
InformationforPatients
Comments:
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Washhandscarefullywithsoapandwateraftergoingtothebathroomorchangingdiapers,cleaning
upvomitorstoolandaftercontactwithanimalsatfarms,fairsorpettingzoos.
Washyourhandsbeforepreparingfoodandbeforeeating.
Avoidundercookedhamburger,unpasteurizeddairyproductsandjuices.
Avoiddrinkingwaterwhenswimmingorplayinginkiddiepools,lakes,ponds,orswimmingpools.
Cleancontaminatedsurfacesanddisinfectwithbleachsolution(5‐25tablespoonsofhousehold
bleachpergallonofwater).
Peoplewithdiarrheashouldnotpreparefood.
Resources:
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CDCHandout
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