Most infected people may return to work or school when their stools become formed provided that they carefully wash their hands after toilet visits. Food handlers, staff in daycare, and health care workers should obtain the approval of the state health department before returning to their routine activities. These persons should be excluded from their duties until two fecal specimens collected at least 24 hours apart are negative on culture. If antibiotics have been given, the initial culture should be obtained 48 hours after the last dose. Most people will recover on their own.
Primary treatment includes giving adequate fluids to prevent dehydration.
Avoid eating raw, rare, or undercooked ground beef or hamburger. The bacteria in meat are killed by heat when thoroughly cooked. Cook ground beef or hamburger until the pink is gone, the juices run clear, and it is hot on the inside. Avoid raw, unpasteurized milk, or products made from such milk. Pasteurization kills the bacteria.