Research shows contaminated meat is linked to 20% of urinary tract infections

It has long been thought that the main cause of urinary tract infections is poor personal hygiene. However, new research suggests that many cases may actually be caused by viral infection. Escherichia coli Bacteria from contaminated meat purchased at the grocery store.

Urinary tract infections are common — 400 million infections occur annually worldwide — According to the U.S., it can occur when bacteria enters the urethra and causes an infection in the urinary tract. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

public health institutions, including The CDC revealed that Escherichia coli It can cause urinary tract infections, but the information provided is often vague. usually when Escherichia coli The government website lists strains of bacteria that cause diarrhea.

a The new study was published Thursday in the scientific journal American Society for Microbiology. shine a spotlight on the stocks of Escherichia coli That can lead to urinary tract infections.

From 2017 to 2021, researchers at George Washington University and Kaiser Permanente Southern California collected more than 5,700 urine samples that tested positive. E. Escherichia coli The study targeted U.S. patients with urinary tract infections living in Southern California, from Bakersfield to San Diego.

Researchers also took samples from meat (including turkey, chicken, pork, and beef) sold at retail stores in the areas where the patients lived.

By comparing these two sets of samples, researchers determined that about 1 in 5 of those infections could be linked to exposure to the following viruses: Escherichia coli From contaminated meat purchased in the United States

“Urinary tract infections have long been thought of as an individual health problem, but our findings suggest that they are also a food safety issue,” said Lance Price, lead author of the study and professor of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University.

Among the meat samples, Escherichia coli The highest contamination rates were found in chicken (found in 38% of samples) and turkey (36%), followed by beef (14%) and pork (12%).

According to the study, foodborne urinary tract infections disproportionately affect women as well as people living in low-income areas.

Women are generally more susceptible to infections due to their anatomy. women have a short urethra The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body is short, making it easier for bacteria to travel through the urethra and into the bladder. However, it is unclear why foodborne urinary tract infections affect women more than men.

It is also unclear why there is such a strong correlation between food poisoning and people living in high-poverty areas. However, the study found that: Escherichia coli Contamination was more common in “value packs” of meat. This means that products with larger amounts of meat cost less per pound.

“My own personal experience in grocery stores is that the quality of products is lower in grocery stores in wealthy areas compared to lower-income areas,” Price said.

The study also suggested that factors such as storage at inappropriate temperatures, lack of proper health and safety practices during handling, and production in unsanitary conditions could all have contributed to the infection. Escherichia coli pollution.

Price said he and his team sometimes saw packages of chicken that were “bloated with saline.” It may have been caused by excess moisture Escherichia coli If it leaks onto the cash register conveyor belt and contaminates other groceries.

Price believes the food supply chain can do more to reduce the risk of foodborne urinary tract infections, but consumers can practice safe food handling practices to lower their risk of exposure. This includes:

• Purchase meat and poultry that are tightly sealed to prevent leakage into other food items.
• Cook all meat and poultry products thoroughly. a complete list Recommended temperatures for whole cuts of beef, ground meat, and chicken can be found on the CDC website.
• Avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen.
• Wash your hands and kitchen surfaces after preparing raw meat.