Harmful Bacteria Found in Bathrooms

We’ve gotten used to the fact that our bathrooms are more or less clean; a wide range of efficient cleaning products available nowadays have made it easy to have clean bathrooms without much effort. However, the facilities outside your home, which have much lower sanitary levels than private bathrooms and experience way more traffic, present a certain risk of contracting bacterial infections. Many bacteria are known to be triggers of a variety of diseases that can cause severe health complications.

E-Coli

Contrary to the popular belief, most strains of E-coli are harmless. These common bacteria found in the intestinal tract and animal feces have strains that produce toxins which can, in fact, cause a disease. Stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and even mild fevers are common symptoms of this ailment and usually don’t last for more than a week. This being said, E-coli is far from harmless, so you should definitely avoid eating raw beef and raw produce that is prone to being contaminated by animal feces. Finally, be aware of the fact that E-coli is very much infectious, so keeping away from people affected by it is recommended.

Campylobacter

Raw and undercooked poultry are potential cesspools of this bacteria that is usually contracted through contaminated food or through hand-to-mouth transfer. Pets are also among the main causes of spreading these bacteria, which is why you should definitely wash your hands after interacting with your dog or cat. Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and headaches are the common symptoms of campylobacter infections, so make sure that you maintain your personal hygiene in order to avoid this nasty infection.

Streptococcus

As a rather common occurrence in humans, we are pretty familiar with the streptococcus, which targets the back of the throat and is often related with tonsil swelling. What most of us aren’t aware of, however, is that streptococcus is capable of causing much more serious problems, including rheumatic fever and kidney disease.

Common as it is, the bacteria that causes an ailment commonly referred to as “strep throat”, should be treated promptly and thoroughly in order to avoid complications. This is why maintaining proper hygiene and thoroughly washing your hands is so important – your parents were right on this one! In addition to other precautionary measures, make sure that the towels at your home are changed regularly, which is a key factor in avoiding not only the “strep”, but also a variety of other bacteria.

Crohn’s disease

This is potentially the worst consequence of bad bathroom hygiene. Crohn’s disease includes persistent diarrhea, fecal urgency, long-term inflammation of the digestive tract lining and even intestinal bleeding. The common causes of this disease are Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens, bacteria that are commonly found in stale water, which makes the act of running water before taking a shower absolutely vital. Old tubs are more likely to be breeding grounds for the bacteria in question, so looking around for the best bathtubs currently on the market might not be such a bad idea, now that you know what you should avoid.

Salmonella

A well-known bacterial infection, salmonellosis induces vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and headaches that take about a week to pass. It is caused by Salmonella, bacteria found in infected animals and humans. Closing the toilet lid before flushing, washing hands after using the toilet, as well as avoiding eating raw and undercooked food are some of the crucial steps you need to take in order to avoid catching this bacteria. Chicken, in particular, is the meat most prone to containing salmonella.

A clean bathroom is far from being just a matter of aesthetics; proper personal and bathroom hygiene is a top priority when it comes to keeping dangerous bacterial infections at bay. As a rule of thumb, stay away from public restrooms. If you can’t, make sure you minimize the contact with your surroundings and always choose liquid soap over soap bars.