Nearly 1 in 5 UTIs Are Caused by This

A Beef With Beef: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the more unpleasant health conditions that befall women. (Men can get UTIs, but women experience 88% of them, thanks to shorter urethras closer to the anus.) Gross, but true: UTIs usually happen when E. coli bacteria from the bladder or bowel moves into the urinary tract. New research points to another source of UTI-causing E. coli: meat.   

The Study: Nearly one in five UTIs come from contact with E. coli from poultry and meat, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed the DNA of E. coli strains in urine samples of more than 23,000 participants diagnosed with UTIs and compared them to strains in raw meat. They found 18% (and 21% in low-income areas) shared a “genetic fingerprint.”

The Takeaway: There are steps you can take to prevent UTIs: 
– Always wipe from front to back in the bathroom. 
– Women should pee right after intercourse. 
– Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before cooking. 
– Cook meat to its recommended temperature to kill bacteria. 
– Avoid cross-contamination by preparing raw meat on different surfaces and with different utensils used with other foods. 

Keep In Mind: While UTIs are widely considered a “nuisance” condition, they can lead to serious bladder and kidney infections and antibiotic resistance.