Latest news with #bacteria
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
A Nasal Gel to Help Fight Superbugs Stays in Limbo
By Hi, it's Lisa in London, where I've been learning about a nasal gel that can kill bacteria in a Petri dish in under 15 minutes. It has the potential to help stop the spread of superbugs — but investors haven't yet been willing to put up the cash to get the gel in the hands (and noses) of patients. Before we get to that... The nose is full of germs, and when patients go to the hospital for some surgeries it provides a path for bacteria to enter the body. This can lead to illnesses ranging from mild skin conditions to life-threatening infections of the heart valves, lungs and blood stream.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Two dozen beaches closed for swimming in Massachusetts: See the list
Two dozen beaches are closed for swimming in Massachusetts, mostly because of unsafe levels of bacteria in the water. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health publishes a dashboard every day of beach closures. Click here to see the list. The main beach at the famed Walden Pond in Concord is closed all summer due to the construction of a new bathhouse. Damon Pond Beach, Ashby (Bacterial Exceedance)Ashland Reservoir - Main Beach, Ashland (Bacterial Exceedance)Hopkinton Reservoir - Upper Beach, Ashland (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Keyes Beach ( Sea Street), Barnstable (Bacterial Exceedance)Brackenbury, Beverly (Bacterial Exceedance)Patuisset, Bourne (Bacterial Exceedance)Upper Mill Pond, Brewster (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Walden Pond - Main, Concord (Other)Sandy Beach, Danvers (Bacterial Exceedance)Moses Smith Creek, Dartmouth (Bacterial Exceedance)Cook's Brook, Eastham (Bacterial Exceedance)S. Sunken Meadow, Eastham (Bacterial Exceedance)Eagle Lake, Holden (Bacterial Exceedance)Carbuncle Pond, Oxford (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Children's Island - Back, Salem (Bacterial Exceedance)Ocean Avenue, Salem (Bacterial Exceedance)Camp Wilder @ Right, Springfield (Bacterial Exceedance)Kings, Swampscott (Bacterial Exceedance)Beamans Pond - Campground, Templeton (Bacterial Exceedance)Beamans Pond - Day Use, Templeton (Bacterial Exceedance)Pearl Hill Pond Beach, Townsend (Bacterial Exceedance) Upton Town Beach, Upton (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)Lake Dennis State Park @ North Camp Beach, Winchendon (Bacterial Exceedance) Donovans, Winthrop (Bacterial Exceedance) Bacterial exceedance is often caused by runoff pollution or sewage overflows after heavy rain. Last weekend, about three dozen beaches were closed for swimming following torrential downpours. The harmful cyanobacteria blooms that are closing a handful of swimming spots result from warm, slow-moving water that is full of nutrients like nitrogen or phosphorous, the Centers for Disease Control says. Swimming in water with too much bacteria can cause gastrointestinal or respiratory illness, as well as skin rashes and itching.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
At 82, I'm completely at home with bacteria
Regarding the article on bacteria in homes (Is your home a health hazard? 15 surprisingly filthy everyday items, from taps to toothbrushes, 17 July), I have managed to live to the age of 82 without ever putting a cutting board in the dishwasher, or sterilising light switches, the TV remote or my spectacles. I do boil the dishcloth every couple of weeks and that's it. We have lived with these bacteria for millennia. Is there any evidence that sterilising every surface would do anything other than increase paranoia?Owen WellsIlkley, West Yorkshire Adrian Chiles, trying to sleep in the heat of the Croatian summer, should use a canny old Australian trick: keep your pyjamas in the freezer until bedtime (I've found the cure for a sleepless night in a heatwave – but it can have its drawbacks…, 17 July). Bliss!Liz TaylorWest Bridgford, Nottinghamshire To answer Tony Meacock's question (Letters, 18 July), no, I haven't finished my replica of the Bayeux tapestry yet. Right now, the completed embroidery stands at 52.6 metres. I aim to finish in HanssonWisbech, Cambridgeshire Wow! Blake Morrison's compilation of terrorists (Letters, 18 July) is the most powerful letter I have ever seen in my 60 years of reading the Guardian. I just hope that those who could make a difference will read it. Gill Empson Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire Thanks to Blake Morrison for his poem. It just reminded me why I buy the KinderRomsey, Hampshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
CNET
5 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Fresh or Filthy? Proper Bath Towel Hygiene
Keeping up with all your chores does more than leave a clean living space. It can also help your health and your peace of mind. Your bathroom should be a high priority, but there are still things you might miss after scrubbing the tub. Even though your bathroom towels may look clean, they could be holding massive amounts of bacteria and germs. Here's everything to know about how often you should wash your bath towels to keep them in tip-top shape. Plus, the best temperature for getting them the cleanest. Why do you need to clean your bath towels so often? When you dry off with towels, they get moist. This porous, damp environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. A common bath towel can have yeast, mold and E. coli growing on it without you ever knowing it. Gross, right? Regular washing prevents bacteria from growing. LG's WashTower functions as one combined washer and dryer unit. LG When should you reuse or wash bathroom towels? Consumer Reports says that under normal circumstances, a towel can be used three or four times before it needs to be washed. That's "times" not "days." If you have many family members using a towel (like hand towels), it needs to be washed on the third or fourth use. The condition of the person using the towel matters, too. If they're sick, toss it in the laundry after one use. If it's flu season, it's best for every family member to have their own towel -- even if they aren't exhibiting symptoms -- to prevent the potential spread of germs. How often you wash towels also depends on how they're dried after usage. If towels find themselves on the floor, the lack of air circulation will cause bacteria to grow quickly. To prolong the life of your towel, be sure to place damp towels on a towel rack. Better yet, crack open a window or turn on the fan to reduce moisture in the room. Supercharge your dryer by cleaning its vent Supercharge your dryer by cleaning its vent Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 1:37 Loaded : 24.52% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 1:37 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Supercharge your dryer by cleaning its vent What temperature is best for washing bath towels? The Infection Control department of Mid-Western Regional Hospital of Ennis, Ireland, recommends washing towels in water that is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or more to kill bacteria. So if you have a sanitize mode on your washing machine, use it. If not, you may consider raising the temperature on your water heater while washing that load. Be sure young children are supervised around sinks, tubs and showers while you do laundry, though, to prevent burns. And, before you reach for the fabric softener, don't. Fabric softener leaves residue on towels that makes them less absorbent.
CNA
6 days ago
- Health
- CNA
Commentary: Some of the dirtiest items in your life are the ones you might least expect
LONDON: From your phone to your sponge, your toothbrush to your trolley handle, invisible armies of bacteria are lurking on the everyday objects you touch the most. Most of these microbes are harmless – some even helpful – but under the right conditions, a few can make you seriously ill. But here's the catch: Some of the dirtiest items in your life are the ones you might least expect. Here are some of the hidden bacteria magnets in your daily routine, and how simple hygiene tweaks can protect you from infection. SHOPPING TROLLEY HANDLES Shopping trolleys are handled by dozens of people each day, yet they're rarely sanitised. That makes the handles a prime spot for germs, particularly the kind that spread illness. One study in the United States found that over 70 per cent of shopping carts were contaminated with coliform bacteria, a group that includes strains like E. coli, often linked to faecal contamination. Another study found Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii and Pseudomonas species on trolleys. Protect yourself: Always sanitise trolley handles before use, especially since you'll probably be handling food, your phone or touching your face. KITCHEN SPONGES That sponge by your sink? It could be one of the dirtiest items in your home. Sponges are porous, damp and often come into contact with food: ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive. After just two weeks, a sponge can harbour millions of bacteria, including coliforms linked to faecal contamination, according to the NSF Household Germ Study and research on faecal coliforms. Protect yourself: Disinfect your sponge weekly by microwaving it, soaking it in vinegar, or running it through the dishwasher. Replace it if it smells – even after cleaning. Use different sponges for different tasks (for example, one for dishes, another for cleaning up after raw meat). CHOPPING BOARDS Chopping boards can trap bacteria in grooves left by knife cuts. Salmonella and E. coli can survive for hours on dry surfaces and pose a risk if boards aren't cleaned properly. Protect yourself: Use separate boards for raw meat and vegetables. Wash thoroughly with hot, soapy water, rinse well and dry completely. Replace boards that develop deep grooves. TEA TOWELS Reusable kitchen towels quickly become germ magnets. You use them to dry hands, wipe surfaces and clean up spills – often without washing them often enough. Research shows that E. coli and salmonella can live on cloth towels for hours. Protect yourself: Use paper towels when possible, or separate cloth towels for different jobs. Wash towels regularly in hot water with bleach or disinfectant. MOBILE PHONES Phones go everywhere with us – including bathrooms – and we touch them constantly. Their warmth and frequent handling make them ideal for bacterial contamination. Research shows phones can carry harmful bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus. Protect yourself: Avoid using your phone in bathrooms and wash your hands often. Clean it with a slightly damp microfibre cloth and mild soap. Avoid harsh chemicals or direct sprays. TOOTHBRUSHES NEAR TOILETS Flushing a toilet releases a plume of microscopic droplets, which can land on nearby toothbrushes. A study found that toothbrushes stored in bathrooms can harbour E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and other microbes. Protect yourself: Store your toothbrush as far from the toilet as possible. Rinse it after each use, let it air-dry upright and replace it every three months – or sooner if worn. BATHMATS Cloth bathmats absorb water after every shower, creating a warm, damp environment where bacteria and fungi can thrive. Protect yourself: Hang your bathmat to dry after each use and wash it weekly in hot water. For a more hygienic option, consider switching to a wooden mat or a bath stone: a mat made from diatomaceous earth, which dries quickly and reduces microbial growth by eliminating lingering moisture. PET TOWELS AND TOYS Pet towels and toys stay damp and come into contact with saliva, fur, urine and outdoor bacteria. According to the US national public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet toys can harbour E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Protect your pet (and yourself): Wash pet towels weekly with hot water and pet-safe detergent. Let toys air dry or use a dryer. Replace worn or damaged toys regularly. SHARED NAIL AND BEAUTY TOOLS Nail clippers, cuticle pushers and other grooming tools can spread harmful bacteria if they're not properly cleaned. Contaminants may include Staphylococcus aureus – including MRSA, a strain resistant to antibiotics – Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the bacteria behind green nail syndrome, and Mycobacterium fortuitum, linked to skin infections from pedicures and footbaths. Protect yourself: Bring your own tools to salons or ask how theirs are sterilised. Reputable salons will gladly explain their hygiene practices. AIRPORT SECURITY TRAYS Airport trays are handled by hundreds of people daily – and rarely cleaned. Research has found high levels of bacteria, including E. coli. Protect yourself: After security, wash your hands or use sanitiser, especially before eating or touching your face. HOTEL TV REMOTES Studies show hotel remote controls can be dirtier than toilet seats. They're touched by many hands and rarely sanitised. Common bacteria include E. coli, enterococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, according to research. Protect yourself: Wipe the remote with antibacterial wipes when you arrive. Some travellers even put it in a plastic bag. Always wash your hands after using shared items. Bacteria are everywhere, including on the items you use every day. You can't avoid all germs, and most won't make you sick. But with a few good habits, such as regular hand washing, cleaning and smart storage, you can help protect yourself and others. It's all in your hands.
