Did you know that according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona, the bathroom sink is the third germiest location in the average house? The study also revealed that the bathroom floor, bathroom counter, and toilet seat are the No. 6, 7, and 8 (respectively) germiest places in the rest of the house. The bathroom can frequently be one of the germ-filled places in the house, so careful attention to regular cleaning and disinfection is crucial, especially if someone in the household has a highly contagious stomach-related illness, a cold, or the flu.
A piece of advice from the experts: Close the toilet lid before you flush to keep microbes inside the bowl from splashing as far as 20 feet onto you, counters, and anything on them! And a word about cleaning the bathroom: Cleaning and disinfecting are not the same thing. Cleaning removes germs from surfaces, while disinfecting actually destroys them. Cleaning with soap and water to remove dirt and most of the germs is usually enough, but sometimes you may want to disinfect for an extra level of protection from germs. While surfaces may look clean, many infectious germs may be lurking around. In some instances, germs can live on surfaces for hours or even for days. Disinfect those areas where there can be large numbers of germs and where there is a possibility that these germs could be spread to others; these are the high-touch areas such as sink faucets, toilet handles, and door handles. When cleaning surfaces, don’t let germs hang around on cleaning cloths or towels; use either paper towels that can be thrown away, cloth towels that are later washed in hot water with detergent, or disposable sanitizing wipes that both clean and disinfect.
A Nevada television station reporter tested two Las Vegas homes for various kinds of disease-causing bacteria, swabbing tile floors, carpeted areas, the soles of shoes, and even the family pet’s paws. The samples were taken to the Silver State Analytical Labs and scientists there found mold, fungus and coliform found in human and animal waste. To read the complete article, ...
As Midwest floodwaters recede and clean-up efforts get underway, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) offers advice to help reduce the risk of infection:Nothing beats hand hygiene – It’s critical to remember to practice basic hand hygiene during the emergency period. Always wash your hands with soap and warm water. If your local health authority has ...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a new fact sheet, “Control of Pandemic Flu Virus on Environmental Surfaces in Homes and Public Places,” which explains how cleaning and disinfecting surfaces in homes and public places can help to prevent the spread of pandemic influenza. How Flu Viruses Spread A flu pandemic is an outbreak of illness ...
Advice from a Saint LouisUniversity germ expert is music to the ears of those who dread the annual tradition of spring cleaning. Don’t go overboard, cautions Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint LouisUniversity’s Doisy College of Health Sciences. “Ask yourself the question: How contaminated is my house?” Duberg says. “If it is just everyday dirt, then ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The recent outbreak of staph infections in schools throughout the country serves as an important reminder of the importance of routine, thorough cleaning and targeted disinfection of buildings where a large number of people constantly live, work or play. This includes schools, office buildings and hospitals. Also, because bacteria and viruses such as salmonella, E. coli, influenza ...
Bacteria and viruses are the microscopic organisms – otherwise known as germs -- that are responsible for causing and transmitting illness and disease. These microbes are so small, that according to the American Society for Microbiology, if the smallest of all microbes was the size of a baseball, an average bacterium would then be the size of the pitcher's mound, and just one of the millions of cells that make up your body would be the size of the ballpark!
Did you know that according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona, the bathroom sink is the third germiest location in the average house? The study also revealed that the bathroom floor, bathroom counter, and toilet seat are the No. 6, 7, and 8 (respectively) germiest places in the rest of the house. The bathroom can frequently be one of the germ-filled places in the house, so careful attention to regular cleaning and disinfection is crucial, especially if someone in the household has a highly contagious stomach-related illness, a cold, or the flu.
