Ground beef and E. coli

Filed in archive News on July 23, 2005

E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria has been found in some ground beef in Canada. Symptoms of this infection typically result in bloody diarrhea. Incubation is from 3 to 5 days, and the symptoms generally result over 5 to 10 days.

The disease that complicates this bacteria is that 10 percent of children under the age of 10 develops hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS).

Treatment is typically supportive, as some studies have shown that the use of antibiotics increases the risk of HUS. ("Buyers told to check beef after E.coli cases reported", Globe and Mail, Jul.23)