How to Reduce Spread of E. coli 0157:H7 Infection to Close Contacts
Diarrhea illness from E. coli 0157:H7 infection is easy to spread to
family members and other household contacts. Because it can be a serious
illness, it is important to try to reduce the chances of spreading it to
your close contacts. If you have been diagnosed with an E. coli 0157:H7
infection, follow these tips to help prevent others around you from
becoming sick.
Persons with E. coli 0157:H7 infection can spread the disease from the
time they have diarrhea or vomiting until they are no longer shedding the
E. coli bacteria in their stool. These measures should be followed until
you have two stool cultures that do not contain this particular bacterium.
Please contact your local health department if you have questions or
concerns.
Hand washing
- Wash hands with soap and water often.
- It is especially important to wash hands after using the toilet or
changing diapers.
- Lather hands with soap and rub hard for at least 15 seconds before
rinsing with warm water.
- Use a paper towel to dry hands, and then throw in the trash. If you
need to use a cloth towel, do not share the towel with others until it
has been laundered.
- You may use an alcohol hand sanitizer if you are not near a sink. Be
sure to rub it over all parts of your hands and allow to air dry for
about 30 seconds.
Avoiding contact with others
- Avoid being in the kitchen or other areas where food is being
prepared. Do not handle food, beverages, dishes, or utensils that will
be used by others.
- Avoid close contact with others when possible. Stay home from day
care, school, and work. This is especially important for food
handlers, day care workers, and health care workers.
- If close contact with a household member is necessary, consider
showering or bathing before contact, especially after an episode of
diarrhea or vomiting.
- Do not share a bathroom if possible. If others must use the same
bathroom as an ill person, clean toilet and surfaces with a household
disinfectant before use by others. Consider wearing disposable gloves
while cleaning, and wash hands after cleaning, whether or not gloves
were worn.
- Avoid swimming in public pools, lakes, or bathing with others.
Cleaning and disinfection
- Immediately disinfect bathrooms or other areas where diarrhea or
vomiting episodes have occurred, using a household disinfectant such
as bleach (1 cup bleach plus 9 cups warm water) or LysolŪ. Follow the
directions on the product label. When illness is over, thoroughly
clean all areas, surfaces, and items that came in contact with the
sick person.
- Wash used dishes, cups, glasses, and utensils with hot soapy water
or in the dishwasher.
- Used disposable diapers from an infected child should be placed in a
sealable bag and then thrown in the regular trash.
- Used linens, clothes, towels, and other laundry may be washed
routinely before use by others. Items heavily soiled with stool should
be washed separately in detergent and hot water or bleach and warm
water, and dried in a hot dryer.
If you are a food handler, day care worker, health care worker, day
care attendee, or student, please contact your local health department
before returning to work or school after you are no longer sick.
Last Revised: October 19, 2007 |
