Where Germs Hide in Your House

We generally think our household is safe from germs and infection, but homes themselves are with germs that have the potential to cause infection. Studies over many years have proved that a wide range of infections, from banal to fatal, are spread in the household. But, it is not necessary that the responsible germs originate in home itself. There may be other sources from which they can originate.

Here is a brief room by room microscopic home tour which would allow you to recognize the potential sources of germs in the household.
Bathroom

We all know that bathroom is a wetland area which provides good fertile place for various bacteria, viruses and fungi to reproduce and grow. Germs stick to the toilet, toilet seats, the rim under the recess of the toilet bowl, just for starters. These places harbor salmonella. A virus known as Rotavirus, which is known to cause gastroenteritis, especially in young children, is excreted from an infected child. This virus can survive for days to weeks on moist surfaces and thus, spreading infection to other children. In addition to the toilet bowl, other rotavirus havens are faucets, toys, diaper- changing and disposal areas, sinks and even the kitchen. The virus responsible for causing gastroenteritis and Hepatitis A is known to spread from the feces of an infected family member to another family member. The bathroom is the second-likeliest place to find germs because of surfaces touched by the kids or the adults who don’t wash hands and thus, spread infection.


The act of flushing the toilet represents the violent stirring of the germs in the bowl water, as well as those adhering to the sides of the bowl. Studies have shown that the first flush after a bowel movement reduces germ load in the water and on the sides of the bowl by 200 to 300 fold. But alone with this flush releases 1,000 – 3,000 bacteria and virus per cubic meter in the air. These germs float in the air and then settle on nearby surfaces. But, remember that gastroenteritis germs and other fecal flora are not acquired by breathing them but only by ingesting them and that usually happens from contaminated hands. Thus, we must make sure to wash hands thoroughly after every visit to toilet and bathroom so as to minimize the chances of infection.

Kitchen

It has been estimated that, of the more than 75 million cases of infection related food poisoning that occur in USA each year, one-fifth occur in the home, probably the kitchen. In particular, 90% of the gastroenteritis cases caused by salmonella infections occur at home. All of us know that the germs grow and reproduce in moisture . The highest counts of bacteria in the kitchen are found in sinks, sink drains, dish rags, mops and sponges. When dish rags are also used to wipe down countertops, the germs from the sink spread to new surfaces. Salmonella species have been found in about 15% of sponges and dish rags in homes. Raw and undercooked meat, poultry, and fish harboor dangerous germs like E.coli, salmonella, campylobacter and pseudomonas which get on the hands of the cook. When we touch or make use of cutting boards, faucets and the countertops, the germs get a new hiding place.

It has been observed that there are many lapses while cooking in kitchen which results in greater chances of germ infection. For example, the towel used to wipe up raw meat is used to dry off washed hands, during food preparation hands go directly from food to face and then back to food. The towel falls on the floor, is picked up and same is used to cover the food.

Bedroom

Respiratory virus are spread by direct contact with the infected person’s secretions and by airborne infected droplets. Household studies have found that upper and lower respiratory infections were spread to 71% of adults from infected child. Out of those infected adults, 40% got infected merely by touching surfaces in the baby’s room. Similarly, an experiment done on Rhinovirus, the cause of the common cold, in Virginia revealed that mothers caught infection from infected children because of lack of proper hygiene.

Laundry room

Laundry room, being moisture-laden, also is a home for germs. Practices like using lower temperature cycles, permanent press clothes and smaller water loads appear to facilitate germs survival on clothing. Using hot water with bleach and complete drying cycles reduces viral and bacterial contamination of clothes by 98 to 100%.

Source-http://www.greendivamom.com/author/savneet/