Urinary tract infections may come from pets

[flashl]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Picking up an E. coli bug from your pet might lead to a urinary tract infection, according to Minneapolis-based researchers.

"Sharing of E. coli strains among humans and pets within a household, including strains that can cause urinary tract infections, is extremely common," Dr. James R. Johnson told Reuters Health.

Harboring the same strain of the bug implies that it is passed from one person or animal to another.

Johnson and his colleagues at the University of Minnesota investigated the extent to which E. coli strains were shared between humans and pets in 63 households. They identified 152 people, 48 dogs, 26 cats, and 2 other animals that had stool samples that tested positive for E. coli. Five of the humans had an acute urinary tract infection.

SOURCE: Journal of Infectious Diseases, January 15, 2008.

Reuters

[zanne]

1. Uh oh.

Maybe that's why I keep getting UTI's.

[RC]

2. Has hand washing been figured into this?

I know people who do not wash their hands after cleaning out the litter box. Cats are clean don'tcha know?

Play with the cat/dog. Go potty, blot/wipe. Make tossed salad for dinner guests. Wipe hand on apron after using said hand to wipe runny nose while in process of dinner making.

I think I'm going to be sick. :puke: :banghead: