cooking foods properly: Bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobactor and Listeria can live in the intestinal tracts of animals. Cooking animal products thoroughly will destroy these bacteria. It is risky to eat rare meats or poultry, raw or lightly cooked fish and shellfish, raw milk, and foods made with raw or lightly cooked eggs.

Proper Storage:Take care with perishable foods before you get them home, also. When shopping, pick up the perishables as your last stop in the grocery, and--especially in hot weather --get them home and into the refrigerator quickly. Don't leave them in the car while you run other errands. If you live more than 30 miles from the store, consider using an ice chest for the trip home. The colder food is kept, the less chance bacteria have to grow. Use a thermometer to make sure your refrigerator is giving you good protection against bacterial growth.

In most cases, prompt cooling and proper refrigeration of foods can hold the number of bacteria to a safe level. Hot foods may be refrigerated promptly if they do not raise the temperature of the refrigerator. Keep them in the refrigerator until served or reheated. Speed the cooling of large quantities by refrigerating in shallow containers. If this is not possible, put the container of food into cold water. Stir and replace the cold water frequently over a 30-minute period. Then refrigerate

http://www.fightbac.org/
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3620.htm

According to public health and food safety experts, each year millions of illnesses in this country can be traced to foodborne bacteria. Bacteria may be present on products when you purchase them, such as raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or produce. Foods, including safely cooked, ready-to-eat foods, can become cross-contaminated with bacteria transferred from raw products, meat juices or other contaminated products or from poor personal hygiene.

According to food safety experts, bacteria can spread throughout the kitchen and get on to cutting boards, knives, sponges and counter tops. Here's how to Fight BAC:

-Wash hands in hot soapy water before preparing food and after using the bathroom, changing diapers and handling pets. For best results, consumers should use warm water to moisten their hands and then apply soap and rub their hands together for 20 seconds before rinsing thoroughly.

-Wash cutting boards, knives, utensils and counter tops in hot soapy water after preparing each food item and before going on to the next one.

-Use plastic or other non-porous cutting boards. Cutting boards should be run through the dishwasher - or washed in hot soapy water - after use.

-Consider using paper towels to clean up kitchen surfaces. Or, if using cloth towels, consumers should wash them often in the hot cycle of the washing machine.

Cross-contamination is how bacteria spreads from one food product to another. This is especially true for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Experts caution to keep these foods and their juices away from ready-to-eat foods. Here's how consumers can Fight BAC!:

Separate raw meat, poultry and seafood from other food in the grocery shopping cart.

Store raw meat, poultry and seafood on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator so juices don’t drip onto other foods.

If possible, use one cutting board for raw meat products and another for salads and other foods which are ready to be eaten.

Always wash cutting boards, knives and other utensils with hot soapy water after they come in contact with raw meat, poultry and seafood.

Never place cooked food on a plate which previously held raw meat, poultry or seafood.

http://www.librainitiative.com/life/en/risc_factors_prevention.html
Usually a person’s own immune defences can overcome most bacterial infections. However, in people with underlying medical conditions and impaired immune responses even harmless infections can be life-threatening. Furthermore, other highly virulent bacteria will always cause infection, even in a healthy host. Therefore, preventive measures should be the first line of defence for everyone. These measures include first of all the prevention of transmission and spread of infectious diseases, especially within hospitals. Knowledge of adequate hygienic measures and of different modes of transmission is essential for protecting oneself.
Today, several serious diseases are under control thanks to routine immunisation procedures for children and adults. Still, vaccination is not always possible or successful, since new virulent subgroups of pathogens keep developing. To combat infections properly, an intact immune system is a prerequisite.

The administration of antibiotics should be considered if a person is unable to overcome a bacterial infection by the defence mechanisms of his own immune system. Antibiotics are designed to eliminate bacteria. Unfortunately, bacteria are real survivors and are extremely adaptable. Therefore, the occurrence of resistance to antibiotic exposure is inevitable and natural. Thus, antibiotics should only be prescribed when necessary. Today, antibiotics are widely used not only in human and animal medicine, but also in agriculture and stockbreeding
With increased mobility and international travel, the world is not only getting smaller for humans, but unfortunately also for pathogens, including resistant bacteria, with resistance genes spreading faster worldwide





Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Tip#1 Say "NO" to dough! Picture of a girl eating x'd out cookie dough Cookie dough that's made with raw eggs could make you sicker than a dog. Don't worry about cookie dough ice cream--the eggs have been cooked.
Tip#2 Beware of wild animals! Picture of a boy hanging from a tree next to a bat Many creatures--such as bats, raccoons, and squirrels--can carry diseases. This is making me dizzy!
Tip#3 Wash 'em before you eat 'em! Picture of a girl picking apples An apple a day WON'T keep the doctor away if you don't wash it first. That goes for all fresh fruit and veggies.
Tip#4 Bugs can be bad news! Picture of a girl applying bug spray If you're in the woods with a lot of mosquitoes and ticks, wear long sleeve shirts and long pants, and put on bug spray.
Tip#5 Get your shots! Picture of a doctor giving a boy a shot Getting vaccinated against diseases could save your life. If you visit a foreign country, ask your doctor about special shots. Ouch!! Tip#6 Take your medicine! Picture of a boy eating a spoonful of medicine Finish all the medicine your doctor prescribes--to the very last pill or spoonful. And remember, don't share your medicine with family or friends.
Tip#7 Don't eat pink meat! Picture of a boy cooking meat on a grill Raw meat is loaded with harmful bacteria. Make sure those burgers are well-cooked.
Tip#8 Take it easy! Picture of a boy in bed with a thermometer in his mouth When you're sick, give your body time to heal. And try not to spread germs--cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
Tip#9 Don't drink water in the wild! Picture of a boy with x'd out water in his hand Harmful microbes can be lurking in water that hasn't been treated for drinking.
Tip#10 Wash Up! Picture of a girl washing her hands Scrub your hands clean! You don't want to get caught dirty-handed.