You may have heard about the most recent large-scale E. coli outbreak in the United States. it was traced back to slivered onions and beef patties from McDonald’s across 10 states. With 49 cases, one death, and 10 hospitalizations, it was a good reminder of the danger of this sort of infection.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are approximately 95,000 cases of E. coli-related food poisoning in the U.S. each year, with symptoms ranging from mild to extremely severe. While there are several other causes of food poisoning, E. coli infections and symptoms usually begin about five to seven days after a patient has consumed the tainted food, although sometimes it can be sooner. Most people recover without treatment after about a week.
How pharmacists can help
Be aware of the common symptoms of an E. coli outbreak, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and severe fatigue. If your patient has experienced a fever higher than 102°F, bloody diarrhea, inability to keep any food down or signs of dehydration, they should contact their healthcare provider.
You can help by discussing the usage of antibiotics with their physician, helping to choose the right medication to treat multi-drug resistant pathogens. If antibiotics aren’t yet warranted, help your patient select the appropriate over-the-counter treatment to relieve their symptoms. You can also take the opportunity to educate your patients about when to use antibiotics and about infections that don’t require them.
If you see multiple patients with similar symptoms, be sure to report the possible outbreak to your local health authority immediately.
Other ways to help
Every year, food poisoning affects approximately 48 million people. So you could use this outbreak to remind your patients of the importance of food safety. For example, fresh or raw produce is particularly susceptible to E. coli. Gather tips and advice to pass along to your patients by visiting foodsafety.gov.
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