Yersinia Enterocolitica is Inactivated by UV-C Light

Yersinia enterocolitica with type of microbe, disease, and UV dose


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
A pig in hay
Animals
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.

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Yersinia Enterocolitica: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation

Organism:Alternate Name:Type:Disease:UV Dose*:
Yersinia enterocoliticaY. enterocoliticaBacteriaYersiniosis4.20 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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