Urinary tract infections linked to contaminated meat in new study
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have long been associated with sexual activity and poor hygiene, but a new study finds that nearly 1 in 5 infections are linked to contaminated meat.
Results of the four-year study, published in the Journal of the American Society for Microbiology on Thursday, showed that 18 percent of patients’ urinary tract infections were linked to E. coli strains of animal origin. Among the so-called foodborne urinary tract infections, the highest risk of exposure was to chicken and turkey.
While more than 5,700 samples were collected from patients with urinary tract infections and grocery stores in Southern California, the authors say the risk is not limited to the Golden State.
“Urinary tract infections have long been considered a personal health problem, but our findings suggest that they are a food safety issue as well,” Lance B. Price, lead author of the peer-reviewed study and a professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University, said in a press release.
“This opens new avenues for prevention, especially for vulnerable communities who bear a disproportionate burden,” Price continued. “That’s why we should invest more, not less, in research on the social determinants of health. Your risk of infection shouldn’t depend on your zip code.”
The study found that people living in low-income areas had a 60% higher risk of foodborne urinary tract infections than those living in more affluent neighborhoods, with older men and women particularly at risk.
E. coli can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, and people can be exposed to the strain from undercooked or contaminated foods such as raw vegetables or meat, according to the Mayo Clinic. The elderly and children are particularly at risk if exposed to this strain, which may lead to kidney failure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that urinary tract infections are “common infections that occur when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract.”
How to protect yourself from E. coli
Marion Maas, a practicing pediatrician, told The Hill’s sister network, NewsNation, that the study showed that “the strains that are most likely to cause infection are more likely to be found in chicken and turkey. So, one important measure is to make sure that you are properly cooking the meat to the right temperature.”
To reduce the possibility of exposure to E. coli, practice good bathroom hygiene and wash hands after handling raw or undercooked meat, Maas said.
“E. coli bacteria start in your intestines and end up in your stool, so wiping the right way is very important. This will be a bigger problem in children, as training a 2, 3 or 4-year-old to wipe in the correct direction from front to back is more difficult than teaching an adult.” “While women are more susceptible to urinary tract infections, girls are particularly at risk.”
For children, she stressed being mindful of what they are dealing with if they are learning to cook or helping in the kitchen.
“I’m a big proponent of teaching your kids to cook, but having kids handle raw meat of any kind is a bad idea,” Maas said.
