Avoiding E. coli this summer

E. coli stands for Escherichia coli, which is a type of bacteria.

“Most commonly, we hear about it in raw or undercooked hamburger meat,” said Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Mayo Clinic.

E. coli bacteria can create some stomach-turning symptoms, like abdominal pain and nausea. But it can get even worse.

“There’s a specific type of E. coli called O157:H7, which can cause bloody diarrhea and has been associated with a condition that can cause kidney damage, especially in young children,” Rajapakse said.

The elderly are also at higher risk for problems with E. coli, as are pregnant women, people with underlying digestive problems and those with weakened immune systems.

Rajapakse says the best way to avoid a bout with the bacteria is to wash your hands and thoroughly cook your hamburgers.

— MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK