Antibiotic-Resistant E.Coli Strain Found in Connecticut Toddler

 Posted on September 16, 2016 in Ecoli

Bacteria are living organisms. It can sometimes be difficult to think of them this way because they are microscopic, but they are organisms just like birds, fish, and human beings. Bacteria are unicellular, which means that each individual is only made up of one cell, rather than the trillions of cells that comprise a human being.

As living organisms, bacterial populations can grow and evolve according to their environment. One gene that has been found in strains of E.Coli bacteria is mcr-1, which makes them resistant to certain antibiotics. Thus far, four cases of individuals falling ill to this strain of E.Coli have been identified in the United States, including a toddler in Connecticut who became ill in June 2016. E.Coli is especially dangerous to humans because it can be spread quickly through contaminated food. Young children can suffer significantly worse symptoms of food poisoning than adults because their immune systems are not yet fully developed, making antibiotic-resistant strains potentially deadly to young victims.

How Does Bacteria Become Resistant to Antibiotics?

Like with other types of organism, natural selection weeds out weak members of a bacterial population and allows the strong members to survive. When antibiotics are used too frequently or improperly, a bacterial strain can develop a resistance to it, rendering the antibiotic useless to individuals infected with the bacteria.

When a bacterial strain becomes resistant to an antibiotic, other antibiotics must be used to treat it. This can make it tricky to treat the infection, especially if a victim is allergic to certain antibiotics.

How Can I Protect my Child from Food Poisoning?

The most effective way to reduce your child's chance of becoming infected with harmful bacteria is to be mindful of everything he or she consumes. By preparing the bulk of your child's food yourself, rather than relying on packaged foods and having your child buy food at school, you know exactly how the food he or she eats was handled, prepared, and stored. Familiarize yourself with safe food handling, storage, and preparation procedures to keep yourself and your family safe from food poisoning.

Of course, this is not always feasible. Because you can never truly eliminate your child's chance of contracting food poisoning, know how to recognize the symptoms of food poisoning. Most types of food poisoning have similar symptoms: vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These often appear alongside fever and fatigue.

Work with an Experienced Lake Zurich Food Poisoning Lawyer

If you or your child have become infected with E.Coli or any other type of harmful bacteria because of another party's negligence, consider working with an experienced food poisoning lawyer to pursue monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. Contact our team of experienced food poisoning lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP today to set up your initial consultation in our office. We serve clients in the North Chicago, Fox Lake, Zion, Winthrop Harbor, Waukegan areas from our office located in Chicago.