A new study from George Washington University and Kaiser Permanente Southern California suggests that E. coli in meat may be responsible for many urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the United States. Researchers analyzed thousands of urine samples testing positive for E. coli in Southern California between 2017 and 2021, finding that about 18% of these infections were linked to contaminated meat from local grocery stores.
Lance Price, a senior author of the study and a professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University, emphasized that UTIs should be seen as a food safety issue. He told the Los Angeles Times, “Urinary tract infections have long been considered a personal health issue, but our findings suggest that they are also a food safety problem.”
The study, published in the journal One Health, used a genomic approach to trace the origins of E. coli infections. The researchers estimated that between 480,000 and 640,000 UTIs in the U.S. each year could be caused by foodborne E. coli strains. This discovery is significant as E. coli is the most common cause of UTIs, responsible for over 85% of cases annually.
The research team collected raw chicken, turkey, and pork from major grocery chains in Flagstaff, Arizona, and isolated E. coli from these samples. They also gathered E. coli isolates from patients at the Flagstaff Medical Center. By analyzing the genomes, they identified DNA segments unique to E. coli strains in food animals versus humans. This allowed them to create a predictive model to differentiate the sources of E. coli.
The study highlights the need for better monitoring of pathogens in food, particularly raw meat. Consumers are advised to take precautions, such as washing hands thoroughly and using separate surfaces for raw and cooked foods, to reduce exposure to contaminated meat.
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