Since most cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) develop due to E. coli food poisoning, preventing E. coli infection is the best way to prevent HUS.
Cook Meat Thoroughly
One of the most common causes of E. coli O157:H7 infections is by eating undercooked ground beef. Because of this, it is important to cook your meat, and especially ground beef well. When cooking, use a digital instant-read meat thermometer, making sure that the inside is at least 160º Fahrenheit. It is possible for ground beef to be cooked until brown and not be cooked well enough to kill E. coli bacteria that may be present.
If you are served and undercooked hamburger or ground beef product at a restaurant, send it back for a thorough cooking. Don't hesitate to ask for a clean plate and new bun. The restaurant wants you to get ill as much as you do, so don't feel bad sending food back.
Prevent Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and E. coli Infection in Your Kitchen
There are several simple things that can be done in the kitchen to prevent the spread of E. coli. You should always keep raw meats separate from ready-to-eat foods. Also, cooked food should never be placed on an unwashed plate that held raw meat. Wash your hands, counters, and utensils with hot, soapy water after touching raw meat. After measuring the temperature of your meat to make sure it is thoroughly cooked, wash your meat thermometer before testing any other food products.
Drink Only Pasteurized Milk, Juice, or Cider
Commercial juice in boxes and vacuum-sealed juice in glass containers has been pasteurized even though it may not say it on the label. Juice concentrates are heated sufficiently enough to kill pathogens.
Wash Fruits and Vegetables
You should wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly, especially if they are not cooked before eating. Recent research has found that E. coli bacteria can migrate into the leaves of spinach and lettuce. When that happens, washing the leaves will not wash away the E. coli.
Contact with Sick Family Members
The risk of spreading E. coli infection can be reduced by ensuring that people with diarrhea (especially children) wash their hands carefully with soap after bowel movements. Hands should always be washed after changing diapers. Anyone with diarrhea should not swim in public pools or lakes, share baths with others, or prepare foods for others.
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Prevention if Already Infected with E. coli
There is no known method of reducing the possibility of an E. coli infection developing into HUS. It does appear that aggressive and early treatment of severe E. coli infections may reduce the amount of toxin-producing bacteria in the body, thus lowering the risk or HUS.
This information about hemolytic uremic syndrome and E. coli was provided by Pritzker | Ruohonen, a nationally-recogninzed law firm in the area of food borne illness lawsuits. If you or someone you love has become seriously ill from an E. coli infection or any other food borne illness, please contact an E. coli attorney for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and remedies. Please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the online consultation form for review by an E. coli lawyer at the firm.
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