One of the best way to prevent the spread of E. coli to other people is to maintain proper hygiene. Always wash and scrub your hands carefully with soap and water after you:
- Use the bathroom
- Change a diaper
- Come into direct contact with an animal or its environment, such as the enclosure of a petting zoo or a stable
- Before touching someone’s mouth or any object that will go into someone’s mouth, including food and a pacifier (2)
To actually kill E. coli, wash hands vigorously for a minimum of 20 seconds, the equivalent of singing “Happy Birthday” twice. Contrary to popular belief, warm water is not a must when it comes to killing bacteria and germs; any temperature will do. But don’t forget to always wash the backs of hands, wrists, between the fingers, and under fingernails as well. After hands are dry, use a clean towel to turn off the faucet. (4)
Note that using hand sanitizer does not yield the same protective results as washing hands with warm, soapy water. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of any hand sanitizer products for preventing an infection fromE. coli, though a study shows sanitizer does kill some (but not necessarily all) MRSA germs.
If you’re at a restaurant, there isn’t much you can do to prevent food poisoning from E. coli, aside from sending back any meat that looks like it wasn’t cooked completely, such as pink hamburger meat. But there are a number of steps you can take at home to reduce your risk of getting an E. coli intestinal infection:
- Cook beef thoroughly.To kill E. coli, steaks and roasts need to be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees F; ground beef requires a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
- Rinse all fruits and vegetables. These should be rinsed until no visible grime or dirt is left on the produce. Be sure to also wash fruit like melons. When you cut into, say, a cantaloupe, you can drag surface E. coli through the fruit, contaminating the inside.
- Avoid cross-contamination. Separate raw meats from produce, using different cutting boards and knives when preparing them. Always wash hands, utensils, counters, serving trays, and cutting boards after they’ve been in contact with raw meat. And don’t put cooked meat back on the same plate it was on before it was cooked. (2)
FAQs
E. coli infections can be contagious, but the infections are treatable with fluids and rest. You can also prevent infections through actions such as proper food preparation and handwashing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is an E. coli infection contagious? ›
E. coli bacteria can easily travel from person to person, especially when infected adults and children don't wash their hands properly. Family members of young children with E. coli infection are especially likely to get it themselves.
How can you eliminate the risk of E. coli? ›
Minimizing Your Risk
- Wash your hands.
- Cook and serve your food at the appropriate temperatures.
- Keep your food preparation areas clean.
- Avoid unpasteurized beverages.
- Serve irradiated hamburger.
- Be careful when dealing with animals.
- Keep ill children home from daycare and preschool.
- Use caution when swimming.
The most important thing you can do to protect against E. coli infections is to wash your hands.
How can the transmission of E. coli be prevented? ›
Avoid cross contamination i.e. spreading bacteria from a raw food item to a ready-to-eat or cooked food item, by for example, using separate cutting boards for raw meat and cooked meat or fresh vegetables and wash the cutting board with soap in between the handling of raw and ready-to-eat food.
How to eliminate E. coli from the body? ›
For illness caused by E. coli , no current treatments can cure the infection, relieve symptoms or prevent complications. For most people, treatment includes: Rest. Fluids to help prevent dehydration and fatigue.
Who is most at risk for E. coli? ›
Some people are more likely to get infected.
Groups of people who are at increased risk for E. coli infection include: Children younger than 5. Adults 65 and older. People with weakened immune systems.
Does E. coli need contact isolation? ›
In the healthcare setting patients should be placed in contact isolation for the duration of the diarrhea. In homes, persons with diarrhea should not cook food for others and must use good handwashing technique after using the toilet. Cases must be instructed on proper handwashing, especially after-toilet use.
Is it possible to avoid or prevent E. coli from harming you? ›
Follow four simple steps to food safety: clean, separate, cook, and chill. E. coli and other harmful germs can be on your kitchen surfaces and in your foods. At home, follow these 4 simple steps to prevent illness.
Where is E. coli prevention? ›
You can also prevent E. coli infections by being careful about the foods that carry the greatest chance of contamination: Cook hamburgers until they're 160 F inside. Drink only pasteurized milk, juice, and cider. Wash all of your produce before you eat it.
E. coli 0157:H7 can be killed by numerous disinfectants including 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, phenolic or iodine-based disinfectants, glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde. It can be inactivated by moist heat (121° C for at least 15 min) or dry heat (160-170° C for at least 1 hour).
How can we prevent E. coli in produce? ›
Preventing E. coli From Garden to Plate – 9.369
- The bacterium E. ...
- Irrigate your garden with potable water.
- Never apply uncomposted manure to growing food crops.
- Compost manure properly to kill most E. ...
- Wash your hands thoroughly before working with food.
- Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.
The best way to avoid E. coli is to avoid cross-contamination between ground beef and other foods and to always wash produce before ingestion. Chemical contaminants are contaminants from cleaning supplies, improper surface materials, improper metals, and pesticides.
Is E. coli contagious? ›
Some strains of E. coli, including those that cause gastrointestinal symptoms and infection, are contagious. You can also get an infection from undercooked meat or contaminated foods.
How do you eliminate the risk of E. coli or salmonella? ›
You can get E. coli infections by eating foods containing the bacteria. To help avoid food poisoning and prevent infection, handle food safely. Cook meat well, wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them, and avoid unpasteurized milk and juices.
What is the main control method for controlling E. coli? ›
Regular handwashing, particularly before food preparation or consumption and after toilet contact, is highly recommended, especially for people who take care of small children, the elderly or immunocompromised individuals, as the bacterium can be passed from person to person, as well as through food, water and direct ...
Should I stay away from people if I have E. coli? ›
Anyone who has had an E. coli O157 infection should stay away from work or school until they have been completely free of symptoms for 48 hours. Most people are no longer infectious after about a week, although some people, particularly children, may carry E. coli O157 for several months after they have got better.
How does a person get E. coli? ›
The bacteria can cause diarrhoea and food poisoning, or more serious illnesses like pneumonia. E. coli infection can be spread through contact with contaminated food or water, or by contact with people who are sick.
Can I spread E. coli to my boyfriend? ›
However, during sexual intercourse, these bacteria can be transferred to the urinary tract (this is in both men and women) or the vagin*l area (in women), potentially causing an infection [5]. So, yes, E. coli can be sexually transmitted.
Can a man get E. coli from a woman? ›
Research suggests it's possible for people to share UTI-causing bacteria with each other during sex, especially during anal sex. Escherichia coli is the bacteria that causes most UTIs, and it lives in the colon. So during anal sex, it's possible to pass E. coli to another person.
