Everything You Need to Know About Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia Coli
When you’re cleaning and disinfecting your home, are you fully aware of what might be there in the first place? It’s time to dig deep to make sure that you’re aware of the microscopic intruders that could be threatening your health and safety.
Let’s discuss a specific strain of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and how to make sure that it doesn’t affect you or your loved ones adversely.
What is ESBL E. coli? Is it different than regular E. coli?
ESBL stands for “Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases,” which are a class of enzymes — or action-oriented proteins — that some bacteria make. ESBL enzymes work hard to target the beneficial action of antibiotics.
If you have a bacterial infection, your care team may respond by putting you on an antibiotic such as penicillin. If you have an ESBL infection, those enzymes will directly counteract the antibiotic to render it useless. This puts the patient in a very dangerous situation. While many types of bacteria produce these anti-antibiotic enzymes, the two that do it the most are E. coli and Klebsiella.
- coli is normally harmless; its infections, easy to treat. However, with the additional power to supersede penicillin or other typical antibiotics, its infections can quickly become very painful and serious.
Where does ESBL E. coli commonly live?
Bacteria tend to receive their abilities from their environments. The very first ESBL microbes originated in hospitals, where microbes spent a lot of time around antibiotics. To survive, they developed an inherent resistance to the medicines surrounding them, resulting in ESBL E. coli.
Now, the populations of this microbe tend to be a little more widespread. People can get infected by ESBL E. coli today by coming into contact with dirt or water contaminated by this microbe. Animal fecal matter tends to be one common source — making farms or produce sourced from farms one potential method by which people get infected.
This microbe spreads by contact. If you shake hands, share a breathing space or handle a common object with someone who is carrying this infection, you could contract an ESBL infection as well.
If you work in hospitals, have friends or family who work in healthcare professions or live or work near healthcare facilities, it’s best to be on alert for ESBL infections as well.
What harm can this microbe cause? For whom?
ESBL E. coli infections can result in a wide array of symptoms. It depends on where the E. coli have infected you. It can cause gastrointestinal distress, urinary tract infections, and even blood infections.
If you notice a loss of appetite, diarrhea, cramps in your stomach or a fever, you might have a gut infection due to antibiotic-resistant E. coli. A blood infection will trigger different symptoms, including chills, nausea, trouble breathing and vomiting. If any of these occur, it’s best to reach out to a medical professional as soon as possible.
What to do about this microbe in your home?
As ESBL E. coli is spread through contact, it’s a great strategy to work to keep your home as clean a slate as possible at all times. Any surfaces that may have come into contact with food products or people who may carry this microbe need to be disinfected frequently. It’s important to remember that this is different than simply cleaning. Your cleaning routine needs to include cleaning and disinfection — and you need to repeat your routine regularly.
Remove E. Coli from Your Home with an Effective, Efficient Cleaner & Disinfectant
Escherichia coli and other ESBL microbes can wreak havoc on your health—which means that it’s time to get them out of your home. Our All-Purpose Cleaner gives you a one-two punch combination, a superior clean coupled with a disinfectant that wipes out 99.9% of germs, viruses and bacteria when used properly, following all manufacturer’s instructions. All that remains is the blissful feeling that comes with knowing your home is clean and safe from harmful microbes like E. Coli.