A recent study out of Southern California found that meat contaminated with E. coli bacteria could be a driver of nearly 1 in 5 urinary tract infections (UTIs) — a potential risk that may predominantly impact people in low-income neighborhoods.
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More investigation is needed. “This result suggests that livestock may serve as a reservoir contributing to the E. coli pool infecting humans, but it does not establish that contaminated meat directly caused these UTIs,” says Jason Kim, MD, a urologist who specializes in female urology at Stony Brook Medicine in Lake Grove, New York, who was not involved in the study.
Turkey and Chicken Most Likely to Be Contaminated
Researchers examined more than 5,700 urine samples from adults in Southern California who were diagnosed with UTIs between 2017 and 2021, as well as E. coli samples from meat found at local grocery stores, including chicken, turkey, pork, and beef. Most of the participants were female (88 percent), and they were 50 years old on average.
Researchers used genomic DNA sequencing to analyze all the samples and match up bacterial strains that are specific to animals or humans, and found the following:
- About 1 in 5 (17.7 percent) UTIs were linked to E. coli strains with an animal origin — suggesting likely foodborne infections.
- Women were more likely than men (19.7 percent versus 8.5 percent) to have their urine test positive for an E. coli strain tied to animals.
- Among men, older men were more likely to have their urine test positive for an E. coli strain tied to animals.
- People living in low-income areas had a 60 percent higher risk of foodborne UTI than those living in higher-income areas.
- Turkey and chicken represented the highest E. coli contamination among the meat samples.
One study limitation is that the genomic model used was not developed with E. coli DNA from beef samples, which may have resulted in an underestimation of how E. coli from beef may contribute to human infection.
How Could Eating Meat Lead to a UTI?
There are many different strains of E. coli, a type of bacteria that is common in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. While some strains are harmless, others can lead to illness — and data shows that E. coli from food and non-food sources is responsible for a majority of UTIs.
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Sometimes, these infections can occur via a zoonotic pathway, meaning the bacteria moves from animals to humans through the food chain, Dr. Kim explains. “When people handle or consume contaminated meat, these bacteria may colonize the gut and later ascend the urinary tract, causing infection,” he says.
This can happen in a few ways, says Francisco Diez-Gonzalez, PhD, a professor and the director of the Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia in Athens who was not involved in the new study:
- Eating undercooked meat
- Going to the bathroom after handling meat without washing your hands first
- Wiping back to front after using the toilet, which can cause bacteria from your anal area to travel to your urethra (the opening where urine comes out)
What to Do About UTIs
As a common bacterial infection driver, E. coli is estimated to be responsible for millions of cases of UTIs per year, most often in women.
- Pain or burning during urination
- Increased frequency or urgency to urinate
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen
Kim recommends seeing a healthcare provider as soon as possible if you’re experiencing any of those issues. The outlook is “excellent,” he says, for most uncomplicated UTIs that are diagnosed and treated early.
“While typically mild, UTIs impose major healthcare and productivity costs and can lead to serious complications. Over half of E. coli sepsis cases begin as urinary infections,” he says. Sepsis happens when the body starts fighting too hard against an infection, leading to dangerous inflammation that can cause poor blood flow and blood clots. If not treated quickly, sepsis can be fatal.
“They are therefore a significant concern for the general population, particularly for women, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals.”
Minimizing E. coli Transmission to Help Prevent UTIs
To reduce your risk of foodborne E. coli urinary tract infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that you:
- Wash your hands after handling raw meat.
- Sanitize any kitchen surfaces exposed to raw meat.
- Cook meat to the recommended internal temperature to kill any bacteria.
“Avoid cross-contamination between raw meats and poultry and other foods, especially anything that is ready to eat, in the kitchen as well as in the refrigerator,” Dr. Diez-Gonzalez says.
Though other research has previously linked E. coli and UTIs, the new findings suggest that foodborne infections disproportionately affect people living in lower-income areas — which the study authors said should help inform public health strategies.
“In short, the scale of overlap is unexpected and important for public health, but it represents correlation rather than proven cause-and-effect,” says Kim. “But from a public-health standpoint, the study also emphasizes improving food-safety standards, reducing E. coli contamination in the meat supply, and addressing socioeconomic disparities that heighten infection risk.”
