What is ESBL and are ESBL bacteria dangerous?

1. The creepy ESBL bacteria is increasingly in the news. Can you still eat normal meat?

1. A bacteria that prevents antibiotics from helping when you get sick, that sounds scary. And the ESBL bacterium is such a bacterium. Although, bacteria? Officially, it's all a bit more complicated because ESBL is actually an enzyme produced by certain gut bacteria «n (such as E. coli). An enzyme, not bacteria. But for convenience, we are speaking about an ESBL bacteria.

Resistant bacteria

1. Why is ESBL actually dangerous? The good news is that this ESBL bacteria is not dangerous to healthy individuals. But these bacteria can certainly be dangerous for vulnerable groups. These vulnerable groups are: children up to 5 years old pregnant women sick people with low immunity (such as after surgery) elderly If they become ill from, for example, the bacterium E.coli, they can get nasty infections. Normally, these bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, but that is not the case with ESBL. ESBL ensures that the bacteria that caused the infection become resistant to antibiotics. In that case, treatment of the infection will often have to take place in a hospital, for example by using an IV. In summary, ESBL bacteria are not dangerous for healthy people, but for vulnerable groups they can make the treatment of any infections considerably more difficult.

Keep cool, prepare well

1. ESBL bacteria are mainly found on meat, such as pork, veal, but especially chicken meat. It makes sense to advise vulnerable people not to eat chicken meat anymore, but that is not necessary at all. You can reduce the risk of contamination with the ESBL bacteria enormously by preparing and storing the meat in a good, hygienic way. To start with the latter, all meat must be kept refrigerated, in the fridge or freezer. This will reduce the growth of the harmful bacteria.

6 tips for everyone

1. With a few simple tips you can prepare your meat in the right way: 1. Always wash your hands thoroughly before cooking. 2. Wash your hands immediately after handling raw meat. 3. Wash your kitchen utensils with hot water and detergent immediately after use. 4. Do not poke raw meat with the same cutlery and then into cooked food. So, for example, use different forks to prick raw meat and cooked meat. Never use the same surface for raw meat and then for cooked food. 6. Fry meat through and through. By properly heating the meat, all bacteria die, including the ESBL bacteria. These tips apply not only to the vulnerable groups, but to everyone. Even if you are healthy and have good resistance, you can carry the ESBL bacteria in you without noticing it. If you become ill later on, these bacteria can still prevent antibiotics from working. So always and everywhere prepare your meat hygienically.

2. With a few simple tips you can prepare your meat properly: 1. Always wash your hands thoroughly before cooking. 2. Wash your hands immediately after handling raw meat. 3. Wash your kitchen utensils with hot water and washing-up liquid immediately after use. 4. Do not poke raw meat with the same cutlery and then over cooked food. So, for example, use different forks to prick raw meat and cooked meat. 5.a Never use the same surface for raw meat and then cooked before eating. 6. Fry meat through and through. By properly heating the meat, all bacteria die, including the ESBL bacteria. These tips apply not only to the vulnerable groups, but to everyone. Even if you are healthy and have a good resistance, you ESBL bacteria «n carry in you without noticing. If you become ill later on, these bacteria can still prevent antibiotics from working. So always and everywhere prepare your meat hygienically.