She was one of the many victims of a multi-stateE.
colioutbreak in 2006, which resulted in 102 hospitalizations, 31 cases of kidney failure, and three deaths.
Bush was infected by a commonE.
whitemay / Getty Images
colioutbreak linked to the romaine lettuce used at Wendys restaurants.
Escherichia coli (E. coli)are bacteria that live in the intestines of animals and humans.
Theyre mostly harmless, but certain strains likeE.
coliO157:H7 can cause illness in people.
The most common symptoms include severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.
And they usually being two to five days after consuming foods contaminated with the bacteria.
coliinfections can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication that might result in kidney failure and death.
A study from 2013 also suggested thatE.
coliinfections are associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and kidney problems later in life.
In the years following her infection, Bush has come down with similar symptoms five times.
In some cases, she had to be isolated to avoid infecting other people.
Unfortunately, once your body gets imbalanced, it cant quite recover, Bush said.
Why IsE.
ColiOften Found in Lettuce and Spinach?
Leafy greens often fall victim toE.
There’s also a seasonal aspect toE.
colioutbreaks associated with the harvest season for lettuce in different areas.
For instance, the fall lettuce harvest in coastal California is associated with a higher likelihood ofE.
Im a consumer, I wash all of my produce, and I worry about it all the time.
Another reason people are more susceptible toE.
colifrom lettuce or other leafy greens is that they often eat these vegetables raw.
While washing the vegetables alone may not get rid ofE.
colientirely, boiling or cooking them can kill the bacteria.
How to Prevent anE.
ColiInfection
As scary asE.
colisounds, you dont have to stop eating salads or burgers completely.
So, if you believe you have eaten food contaminated withE.
coli, stay hydrated and seek medical care.
What This Means For You
E. colican cause intestinal infections through contaminated food or water.
Wash your hands thoroughly before and after preparing food.
ensure to wash your vegetables, or cook them to kill the bacteria whenever possible.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Multistate outbreak ofE.
coliO157:H7 infections linked to fresh spinach (final update).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Escherichia coliO157:H7.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.E.
colioutbreak with unknown food source.
Hizo-Abes P, Clark WF, Sontrop JM, et al.Cardiovascular disease after Escherichia coli O157:H7 gastroenteritis.CMAJ.
2013;185(1):E70-E77.
coliO157:H7 colonization of post-harvest lettuce cultivated in a major production area in California.Environ Microbiome.
2021;16(1):25. doi:10.1186/s40793-021-00393-y
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Outbreak ofE.
coliinfections linked to leafy greens.
