5 places with more fecal bacteria than in the toilet. You come into contact with them every day!

We come into contact with bacteria every day, but most people are not in danger. And where do those dangerous to he alth usually lurk? It turns out that there may be more fecal bacteria on the computer keyboard, mouse, kitchen dishwasher, grocery basket or railing on the bus than in the toilet! We advise you on how to reduce the risk of infection with pathogenic microorganisms.

In nature, no environment is free from them. Scientists have calculated: there are 5 x 10³⁰bacteria around us. They are found in our food, in water, in the air, inside other organisms and on their surface, in dust. However, about 95 percent. of them do not threaten us, and are even useful. Only a few percent are pathogenic bacteria, i.e. pathogens.

Clinical microbiology deals with them. There are also harmless and often essential bacteria in the human body and skin - they are found in the digestive tract, in the respiratory system and on the skin. They are not present in sterile areas (e.g. in the nervous system, brain, inside the eyeball).

One of the many roles of our own bacteria is protection against harmful microbes from the outside world. By washing the skin in water with detergent, we remove dirt (i.e. sweat, fat, dead skin cells) together with bacteria - both those that make up our protective coat, and pathogens. But there is no better protection against pathogenic microbes - the bacteria do not jump, they have to be transferred, so if we wash our hands we limit their spread.

This should always be done before eating and after going to the toilet. However, let's leave the use of antibacterial soaps for exceptional situations - e.g. in a hospital. It is worth knowing that bacteria in our environment can survive for several weeks, months or even years (e.g. some speciesSalmonellalive over 4 years).

In the office

It's not the toilet, butthe desk is the biggest bacterial threat at work . Why? Bathrooms are washed and disinfected, desks and telephones are usually not cleaned by anyone. They are home to 400 times more bacteria than a toilet. Leftover food, coffee cups, pens, keyboards, mice and telephones touched by everyone - these are the favorite places of bacteria. On the handsetthe telephone number is 3824 microbes / cm² ! On the toilet seat, however, only 7.5 bacteria / cm² .

There are, however, simple ways to avoid this hazard - wash your hands before eating, do not keep open food in your desk, and keep your workplace tidy. And clean your own phone (as well as your cell phone) with a cotton swab with detergent, dishwashing liquid or spirit.

In the kitchen

It's not the toilet or the trash can that is the dirtiest place in the house!Dangerous are sinks (more polluted than the toilet seat itself), kitchen scourers and tea towels- even those looking clean and almost new.

This is because the combination of moisture and decaying food debris is a great environment for bacteria to multiply. In addition, it is easy to get infected, because pathogens have the opportunity to spread to hands, food, and utensils. 40,000 people live on kitchen sponges. bacteria / 1 cm² , which is 70 times more than, for example, on the kitchen floor. According to research, 90 percent. Sponges and cloths, and nearly half of the sinks are home to potentially pathogenic microbes.

How to protect yourself from kitchen bacteria? First, wash your hands thoroughly. And the countertops, sink, and refrigerator handle should not only be washed, but also disinfected, especially after contact with raw meat or fish. Wash tablecloths and kitchen towels in hot water, change the sponge once a week, and dry it in the microwave or clean it in the dishwasher every day.

Store raw food away from ready-made food. Wash egg shells thoroughly (but immediately before use), meat, fruit and vegetables. Do not let frozen food thaw if you want to store it further - it builds up toxin-producing bacteria. After re-freezing, bacteria no longer multiply, but toxins remain (boil-resistant) that can cause poisoning.

And how to get rid of bacteria from cloths and clothes? It turns out that washing at 30-60ºC with ordinary detergents does not always remove all pathogens. You need high temperature (this is where towels, tablecloths or bed linen are usually washed), chlorine bleach - not recommended for delicate fabrics - or a special powder or liquid that removes most bacteria at 40 ° C.

Washing linen with, for example, faecal bacteria, together with other clothes, transfers them to the entire load. In addition, many bacteria remain in the washing machine after washing, contaminating subsequent laundry. Particular attention should be paid to the washing of bed linen, towels, underwear, kitchen aprons, clothes used for gardening, children's clothesand plush toys.

Worth knowing

Fecal bacteria on … a toothbrush

The room that requires more time to clean is the bathroom. Bacteria living in the toilet bowl spread freely throughout the bathroom. When draining the water, they are sprayed 1.5 meters high, and this peculiar aerosol, falling down, settles on towels, toothbrushes, wash basin.

The aerosol also passes through the gaps between the shell and the lowered board! Therefore, it is a good idea to disinfect the toilet with a chlorine solution every day. Keep toothbrushes and cosmetics in a closed cabinet, and wash towels at high temperature.

In the store

Shopping carts are dirtier than city restrooms- say American microbiologists. The situation in Polish stores is similar, so wash your hands after shopping and do not put your baby in the shopping trolley or let them touch it.

If necessary, cover the seat with a special insulating cover for the baby. To protect your purchases, pack them in bags before putting them in the cart. You can also buy a special bag, fastened with Velcro to the sides of the shopping cart.

It is risky to use testers in drugstores. Although lipsticks and eye shadows contain preservatives, with time they become less and less effective, they are exposed to various bacteria left by women who test them. The most safe are powders, shadows and blushes - they do not contain ingredients that are particularly liked by bacteria.

To be sure, wipe the top layer of the cosmetic with a tissue before trying it. Lipsticks and lip glosses can be more dangerous - it is also worth wiping the top before applying them to the skin. Never try mascaras on your own eyelashes, and test pencils and eyeliners (especially the latter because they are based on water) on the skin of your hands. Apply the foundation with a clean sponge, but away from the eyes and mouth. If you want to test a skincare product, ask for a sample.

In public transport

Handrails, buttons, seats in buses, trams and subways - these are potential habitats of dangerous bacteria. British scientists have found fecal bacteria in every fourth person traveling by metro and bus. This is evidence of not washing your hands after using the toilet.

While driving on public transport, do not touch your face and wash your hands at the earliest opportunity. It is also worth carrying special wipes or a disinfecting gel with which you can clean your hands without using water.

In the playground

Playground equipment, such as railings on busesthey are also full of bacteria. Reassuringly, a growing body of research shows that dirt plays a positive role in preventing allergies. It is suspected that the avalanche increase in the number of allergy sufferers in recent years is related to, inter alia, with excessive hygiene of life.

A young child's immune system needs constant training in contact with various pathogens. So a little dirt will not hurt - doctors convince, which of course does not mean that we should not develop the habit of washing hands in children after returning from the playground and before eating.

>>>READ MORE about the causes of the allergy epidemic>>> You must do it

Why do you have to fight the stone?

Yellow-orange or grayish sediment is present in the toilet bowl, sink, bathtub, shower cubicle. You can see it at the bottom of the kettle (electric and traditional), in the washing machine. It is always caused by hard water. Research shows that 90 percent of this water is. of households in Poland.

This problem is not only aesthetic, but also hygienic - limescale facilitates the accumulation of bacteria. Its porous structure makes the places covered with stone a perfect habitat for bacteria - there are 40 percent of them there. more than on smooth surfaces. In such conditions, bacteria can survive for up to 50 days, despite being rinsed with water.

That is why it is important to systematically remove limescale with special preparations. Sludge-free appliances work better (washing machine, kettle), and surfaces protected against limescale get dirty much slower.