E. coli Outbreak: Inspector Poopiedoop's Perspective

We are faced with an E. coli outbreak that is believed to have started in Germany, but is becoming a potentially world-wide concern.  The crisis is the deadliest E. coli outbreak in modern history.

I was referred to as "Inspector Poopiedoop" when I worked as a microbiologist.  In a factory, I "cultured" work surfaces, floors, restrooms and even people's hands hunting for dangerous bacterium.  These samples were then incubated for growth and run through a series of tests for identification.  E. coli can be tricky as there are at least 3,500 different strains which generally "look" the same until further identified.  When grown on Eosin Methylene Blue Agar (a petri dish of a gelatin type substance), E. coli produces a brilliant fluorescent "sheen."

What is E. coli?

E. coli is a Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium of which most are harmless and found everywhere in the environment but serotype 0157:H7 is the most common strain that causes food poisoning--at least until recently.  The new strain of E. coli does not appear to be 0157:H7 but a more resilient survival of the fittest mutating species.  It is an anaerobic bacterium meaning that it does not need oxygen for survival so it thrives in places such as the warm moist walls of the intestine.  Good E. coli is the most prevalent Gram-negative flora (naturally occurring) in the gut.  Good and bad E. coli colonize and survive for periods of time outside the body like on surfaces, in the ground or in vegetables for example.

Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Proteobacteria
Class:	Gammaproteobacteria
Order:	Enterobacteriales
Family:	Enterobacteriaceae
Genus:	Escherichia  (named after Theordor Escherich who discovered E. coli)
Species:	E. coli  (motile via a peritrichous flagella or "tail")

The "In the News" Strain
What makes this "in the news" strain so potential deadly?  It's new and can be antibiotic resistant.  It also releases toxins into the blood stream.  "This is a unique strain that has never been isolated from patients before," Hilde Kruse, a food safety expert at the World Health Organization, told The Associated Press. The new strain has "various characteristics that make it more virulent and toxin-producing" than the many E. coli strains people naturally carry in their intestines.

"Health officials said Thursday three people in the United States are suspected to have fallen ill from E. coli bacteria after traveling to Germany where the mystery outbreak has led to the deaths of 18 people and sickened at least 1,600"  (New Strain of E. Coli Reaches US by Fox News).

Here's the problem.  E. coli lives in the gut, it is expelled through the feces.  If a person is carrying a harmful strain, it becomes "contagious" to others after the infected person uses the restroom does not thoroughly wash their hands and by touch contaminates paper towel, toilet paper, surfaces and so on.  It then spreads in that environment and multiplies.  This is just one of many case scenarios. 

Why is E. coli potentially more deadly in women that men?  It's a simple problem of anatomy.  When women use the restroom and "wipe," often the bacteria is dragged to the opening of the urethra when wiping from back to front.  I'm sorry--as disgusting as it is--women should wipe from FRONT to BACK.  When this bacteria or toxin travels to to the kidneys, it can cause kidney failure.  Regardless of E. coli, this is a exercise in cleanliness.

The Grain Blame
To dispute Dr. Mark Seigel's article, "E. coli outbreak in America.  Why now?"  (Fox News Medical A Team), cows have been eating grain for A LONG TIME.  Don't blame it on the grain!  Dry grain is not likely to harbour E. coli.  Grass fed cows do not grow like grain fed cows not to mention, they taste "gamey."  It's blood and bone meal that presented a problem when fed to cows as they are "herbivores" and this method defies the laws of nature.

When I personally cultured a variety of animal species feces, grain-fed cows and horses had no or minimal E. coli present in comparison to humans, dogs, cats, rats and birds.  Dr. Mark Seigel has probably never been around cows but likely knows a good steak.  As I see it, he is just trying to reduce the use of corn for cattle consumption.  If you haven't been keeping up, we are facing a corn shortage in America.

He goes on to say, "Another problem is our overuse of antibiotics, both in animals and in humans, which creates an environment where it is very easy for resistant strains of bacteria to thrive. This is something we need to become more conscious of, especially when you consider that newer antibiotics are not being made to replace the ones that are no longer effective. Drug companies long ago discovered that making antibiotics is not a profitable business."

Dr. Seigal is not taking into consideration that he does NOT know if all the contaminated vegetables were fertilized with cow manure.  Not to mention, manure is generally "composted" for a period of time and then spread prior to planting so that any bacteria dies upon exposure to light and oxygen.  Remember, E. coli is "anaerobic."  Many anaerobes die upon exposure to oxygen.

He goes on to say, "As the new bacteria spreads throughout Europe via vegetables, a second pathogen is spreading along with it. That pathogen is fear. Since bacteria are invisible, we all personalize the risk and imagine we could be the next victim."

Don't Panic
Fear comes from the UNKNOWN.  Get the facts.  Use caution.  If you are afraid, eat at home for the next several weeks and avoid vegetables.  Buy from a local grower, providing you don't live in Germany, or check stickers at the grocery so you know where the product was grown.  Chose a grocery store you trust and stick with it--one that will personally call you or you can call if there is a recall.