Buzz
The last year and a half has been dominated by concerns over one specific germ: the COVID-19 virus. But there are billions of other bacteria, viruses, and microbes still all around us. What should we truly be worried about? And how can we stay safe without overreacting?
I came across this article from Today on office germs with a touch of “nature is healing” nostalgia. Do you remember when local news outlets used to swab different objects and declare them to be dirtier than a toilet? It seems like that habit is making a comeback.
Microbes are all around us, and that’s completely natural
Have you ever taken children outdoors? Eventually, one of them will complain about an ant crawling on them or nearby. If you're the parent, they’ll expect you to do something about it. You'll then have to explain that we are outdoors, and outdoors is where bugs live.
In the same way, there's no need to be surprised to find microbes in your home, or on the surfaces you touch most often. This is where they live. (Everywhere.)
Bacteria and other microbes inhabit every corner of the earth. They reside on our skin and within our bodies, forming miniature ecosystems known as our “microbiome.” While some can cause illness, the majority are harmless bystanders.
So, what about all those bacteria on your desk, your kitchen counter, or wherever? More often than not, we are the ones who brought them there. They didn’t march in like a tiny invading army from Microbe Central; they’re simply the germs that were already on our skin, and we left some behind after touching things.
As microbiologist Mark O. Martin explained during a previous germ craze (the one about hand dryers in public bathrooms), “You’ve got microbes all over your skin, but that doesn’t stop you from holding hands.”
What’s actually worth doing to avoid harmful germs?
Now that we know we’re mostly surrounded by harmless microbes, let’s dive into what steps we can take to shield ourselves from the harmful ones that might actually cause illness.
Handle raw meat and other food-related safety risks with caution.
Certain foods can be tainted with dangerous bacteria, like Salmonella in raw chicken and eggs, or E. coli in beef. That's why it's crucial to wash your hands after preparing these foods, and clean or sanitize the utensils and surfaces that came into contact with them during the process. (Using hot, soapy water is sufficient for most kitchen tools, though if you prefer a disinfectant for your countertops, that's fine too.)
Wash your hands regularly, as often as necessary.
In addition to washing your hands after handling raw meats, it's also important to clean them after touching things like trash, pets, pet-related items (such as their food bowls or waste), diapers, or even dirt (which, by the way, carries an astonishing number of microbes). Don’t forget to check out the CDC's hand washing guide for more details.
It's always a good practice to wash your hands before meals to ensure that whatever you've touched doesn’t end up in your mouth.
Washing your hands regularly will also help prevent the spread of nasty germs to surfaces like your desk, which, as we know, get contaminated through our hands.
Be cautious around individuals who are unwell or may be unwell.
Germs that cause illness are often passed on by others who are sick. If your child is dealing with diarrhea, make sure to thoroughly clean the bathroom. This is a good time to use a disinfectant like bleach to ensure proper sanitation.
The lessons we learned from COVID are still useful in other situations. Wearing a mask in public can prevent your germs from spreading if you're sick, and it might even protect you from catching illnesses like colds and flu.
While cleaning surfaces and using hand sanitizer didn’t play a major role in preventing COVID’s spread, these habits are still helpful for other illnesses—such as colds, flu, and stomach bugs—that spread through surface contact. It’s a good idea to maintain hand hygiene and regularly clean high-touch surfaces (not necessarily disinfect them).
