How is E. coli O157:H7 infection spread?
E. coli O157:H7 lives in the intestines of some healthy cattle. People are usually infected with E. coli O157:H7 by eating a food item that is contaminated with this bacteria and not cooked enough to kill the bacteria. Food items implicated in previous human infections include ground beef (raw or undercooked), sprouts, unpasteurized milk or juice, and lettuce. This bacteria can also be passed from an infected person to another person if hands are not washed properly after bowel movements or changing diapers. Rarely, infection has been acquired from swimming in a pool or other body of water contaminated by the stool of an infected person. How is E. coli O157:H7 infection diagnosed? This infection is diagnosed by sending a stool specimen for a special type of culture to detect this organism. Routine stool cultures will not pick up this bacteria. Additional testing of the stool is available to see if the shiga toxin is present. How is E. coli O157:H7 infection treated? Most infections sub
