Nursery World - Keep it clean (1)

Childcare settings need to know about the risks of this potentially dangerous infection and how to prevent it, says Annette Rawstrone Recent outbreaks of the deadly bug E. coli 0157 in day nurseries in Fife and Aberdeenshire in Scotland and a school nursery in Wales have highlighted the need for childcarers to be aware of the infection's symptoms and, essentially, how they can help prevent contamination.

Recent outbreaks of the deadly bug E. coli 0157 in day nurseries in Fife and Aberdeenshire in Scotland and a school nursery in Wales have highlighted the need for childcarers to be aware of the infection's symptoms and, essentially, how they can help prevent contamination.

What is E. coli?

E. coli is the abbreviated name of Escherichia coli. It is a bacteria that is everywhere in the environment and normally found in the intestines of cattle and people.

The presence of E. coli helps us to remain healthy - E. coli, along with other species of bacteria, helps provide our bodies with necessary vitamins, including Vitamin K and B-complex vitamins. But there are potentially fatal strains of E. coli, including the 0157 strain which is responsible for the recent outbreaks. E. coli 0157 infection is particularly severe when contracted by babies, young children or elderly people.

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