Causes of Yersiniosis
Cause of Yersiniosis: Infection is most often acquired by eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork products.1
Cause details for Yersiniosis: Two foodborne bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica can actually grow at refrigerator temperatures. High salt, high sugar or high acid levels keep bacteria from growing, which is why salted meats, jam, and pickled vegetables are traditional preserved foods. 2
Infection is most often acquired by eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork products. The preparation of raw pork intestines (chitterlings) may be particularly risky. Infants can be infected if their caretakers handle raw chitterlings and then do not adequately clean their hands before handling the infant or the infant’s toys, bottles, or pacifiers. Drinking contaminated unpasteurized milk or untreated water can also transmit the infection. Occasionally Y. enterocolitica infection occurs after contact with infected animals. On rare occasions, it can be transmitted as a result of the bacterium passing from the stools or soiled fingers of one person to the mouth of another person. This may happen when basic hygiene and handwashing habits are inadequate. Rarely, the organism is transmitted through contaminated blood during a transfusion. 1
Related information for causes of Yersiniosis:
Further relevant information on causes of Yersiniosis may be found
in the risk factors for Yersiniosis
and underlying causes of Yersiniosis.
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Yersinia enterocolitica: DBMD
2. excerpt from Foodborne Infections General: DBMD
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