Yersinia Enterocolitica is Inactivated by UV-C Light

What is Yersinia Enterocolitica?

Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacterium that can be found in raw or undercooked pork. The CDC estimates that the intestinal disease known as yersiniosis causes 117,000 illnesses, 640 hospitalizations, and 35 deaths each year in the United States. Since Yersinia bacteria are most often found in pigs, most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked pork, or through contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins. Children are infected more often than adults.

Where is it Found?

Raw pork contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica — Contaminated Pork

Hand with microscopic germs showing on it — Contaminated Skin

Glass of water being filled from tap — Contaminated Water

What Does it Infect?

Woman with gastrointestinal infection from Yersinia enterocolitica — Intestines

How Does it Spread?

Woman biting a piece of meat off a fork — Eating Meat

Hands changing a baby's diaper — Touching Feces

Hand touching horse muzzle — Touching Animals

Woman drinking a glass of water — Drinking Water

Preventing the Spread of Yersinia Enterocolitica

This bacterium can spread by the following means:

Eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork
Contact with a person who has prepared a pork product, such as chitlins.
- For example, caretakers who handle contaminated food and do not wash their hands properly before handling a child or the child’s toys, bottles, or pacifiers
Contact with infected animals or their feces
Person-to-person contact, such as caretakers who do not wash their hands properly after changing the diaper of a child with yersiniosis
Occasionally, people become infected by drinking contaminated milk or untreated water

The primary method to prevent yersiniosis is to avoid eating raw or undercooked pork. Cook pork thoroughlyopen_in_new, to its recommended internal temperatures. Practice regular hand hygiene and surface disinfection, especially if handling raw chitlinsopen_in_new. Prevent cross-contamination by keeping surfaces used for raw meat away from fruits and vegetables. Carefully clean all cutting boards, countertops, and utensils with soap and hot water after preparing raw meat. Consume only pasteurized milk and milk products, such as soft cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. Dispose of animal poop in a sanitary manner.

Get More Protection with UV Disinfection

Restaurants, retailers, and meat processing facilities can harbor Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria. These applications will benefit by adding UV-C surface disinfection to their regular sanitizing procedures.

Facilities for wastewater treatment, municipal water, and dairy processing have occasionally contained Yersinia bacteria. UV water and liquid disinfection can add a layer of protection.

Shop our products at AtlanticUltraviolet.comopen_in_new.

Learn about these applications:

Meat Processing

Well Water

Wastewater

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Our germicidal lamps produce ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness. Read our FAQ blog post to learn more. See dosage data below.

UV Applications for water and surface disinfection of Yersinia enterocolitica

Yersinia Enterocolitica: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation

Organism:	Alternate Name:	Type:	Disease:	*UV Dose:**
Yersinia enterocolitica	Y. enterocolitica	Bacteria	Yersiniosis	4.20 mJ/cm²

* Nominal Ultraviolet dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganisms. See sources below.

Yersinia Enterocolitica Symptoms

Most people infected with Yersinia experience the following symptoms:

fever
abdominal pain
diarrhea, which is often bloody
pain on the right side of the abdomen, which may be confused with appendicitis.

Sources on Yersinia Enterocolitica:

The above information can be found on the following pages.

Dosage Source

Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Volume 126, Article No. 126021. August 20, 2021.

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