The bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica causes yersiniosis. Most people become infected by eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork, or through contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins.
CDC estimates that infections with Yersinia enterocolitica cause almost 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths in the United States every year. Children are infected more often than adults, and the infection is more common in the winter.
Yersinia bacteria can be transmitted by consuming or handling contaminated food, most commonly raw or undercooked pork products; milk or milk products that were not pasteurized, inadequately pasteurized, or contaminated after pasteurization; or untreated water.They can also be transmitted by direct or indirect contact with animals.
A person with yersiniosis usually has fever and abdominal pain (may mimic appendicitis) and diarrhea. Symptoms typically develop 4 to 7 days after exposure and may last 1 to 3 weeks or longer.
In young children, common symptoms are:
● fever
● abdominal pain
● diarrhea, which is often bloody
Symptoms in older children and adults may include:
● fever
● pain on the right side of the abdomen, and may be confused with appendicitis
Necrotizing enterocolitis has been described in infants. Reactive arthritis affecting the wrists, knees, and ankles can occur, usually 1 month after the initial diarrhea episode, resolving after 1–6 months.
Complications are rare and can include skin rash, joint pains, or spread of bacteria to the bloodstream.
Most people become infected by eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork, or through contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins. For example, babies and infants can be infected if their caretakers handle contaminated food and then do not wash their hands properly before handling the child or the child’s toys, bottles, or pacifiers.
People occasionally become infected after drinking contaminated milk or untreated water, or after contact with infected animals or their feces.
On rare occasions, people become infected through person-to-person contact. Caretakers can become infected if they do not wash their hands properly after changing the diaper of a child with yersiniosis.
Even more rarely, people may become infected through contaminated blood during a transfusion.
Yersiniosis usually is diagnosed by detecting the organism in the stool of an infected person.
Many laboratories do not routinely test for Yersinia, so it is important to notify laboratory personnel when yersiniosis is suspected so that special tests can be done. The organism can also be recovered from other sites, including the throat, lymph nodes, joint fluid, urine, bile, and blood.
Yersiniosis usually goes away on its own without antibiotic treatment. However, antibiotics may be used to treat more severe or complicated infections.
Use separate cutting boards for meat and other foods and carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat. Learn four simple steps to food safety
Pick up and dispose of animal poop, especially in areas where children might play. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and running water after contact with pets and other animals, their poop, or their belongings.
Get more tips to help keep you and your pets healthy
After handling raw chitlins, clean hands and fingernails thoroughly with soap and water before touching infants or their toys, bottles, or pacifiers. Someone other than the person handling food should care for children while chitlins are being prepared. Find out how to stay safe while preparing chitlins
Just because your food looks done doesn’t mean it is done. The only way to know if your pork dishes are safely cooked is to use a food thermometer.
Learn the safe minimum cooking temperature for pork
Consume only pasteurized milk and milk products, such as soft cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
Find out about the dangers of raw milk
Wash hands with soap and water before eating and preparing food, after contact with animals, and after handling raw meat. Learn the right way to wash hands
at the Right Temperature
Your refrigerator should register at 40°F (4°C) or below and the freezer at 0°F (-18°C).
Place a refrigerator thermometer in the fridge, and check the temperature periodically. Adjust the refrigerator temperature control, if necessary.
Place a second thermometer in the freezer.
Ready-to-Eat Foods ASAP!
Use refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods. Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are safest when fresh, so eat them as soon as possible. RTE meat and poultry products are products that are safe to eat without additional preparation, although they may receive additional preparation (for example, reheating) for a better taste or appearance.
the Refrigerator
Clean your refrigerator regularly.
Wipe up spills immediately. This is particularly important, so pathogens like Listeria don’t have a place to grow and then spread to other foods.
Clean the inside walls and shelves with hot water and a mild liquid dishwashing detergent; then rinse. Then dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
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