A simple experiment was done in a microbiology lab. Each student had a culture plate and sampled his regularly-used and rinsed washcloths, sponges, or scrub brushes. Two days later, their eyes opened to a new world - each and every plate had thousands of growing bacterial colonies.
Skin Harbors Bacteria and Other Microbes
First, let's be honest- the skin can never be sterilized, nor can the gastrointestinal tract!
Microbes live and thrive there and they cannot be entirely removed. There are thousands of bacteria on everyone's skin and billions of microbes per gram of large intestine contents and feces. Surgeons and nurses, who scrub down for 20 minutes, do not sterilize their skin. They simply remove what is easily removed. Surgical, sterile gloves are used to cover the skin as a barrier to microbe transmission.
Bacteria, Microbes can Live and Multiply on Bath Accessories
Everything that comes in direct and indirect contact with the body can become contaminated and that includes water and all bath accessories. Microbes on these adhere and, even when rinsed and washed, many microbes remain. These sticking-adhering microbes have a remarkable ability to survive, and multiply prolifically. Bottone at al. found an amazing variety of microbes on loofah sponges and others have isolated live microbes from nebulizers, humidifiers, bath basins and other items in homes and hospitals.
Bacterial Growth with Minimal Food (Nutrients) - The Wet and Wild World of Microbes
Microbes cling, stick and they thrive in water and wet environments. Usually there are enough dissolved nutrients in water to enable microbial growth. In fact, some bacteria can grow from a few hundred to almost one million overnight! This occurs in almost pure water, with only small amounts of carbon and nitrogen compounds! Now that's a population explosion. Bacteria with names like Pseudomonas, Serratia and Enterobacter are notorious for doing this.
The next day, back at the shower or tub, the unsuspecting bather is greeted by a large population of unseen bacteria on the washcloths, sponges, or brushes.
Skin and Bath Accessories, How Contaminated, How Dangerous?
Consider and recall, or remember, that:
- The human body has many normal capabilities for protection against infectious disease
- Most microbes require some help or special opportunity to overcome a host's defenses
- The best defense is a good offense and people can do a lot to protect themselves
Bad things can happen to good bodies. Examples:
- Normal cuts and abrasions related to work or play may exist
- Razor nicks, cuts can breach the skin and lead to infectious skin disease
- Diabetics or immune-suppressed persons are more susceptible to infectious disease
- Pre-existing skin disease (e.g. boil, abscess with Staphylococcus aureus) may lead to a secondary infectious disease with bacteria on a washcloth, brush or sponge.
How to Protect Against Bacterial Skin Infections by Washcloths, Brushes, Sponges and Other Bathroom Accessories
- Use a new, clean wash cloth each day. One bath or shower equals one washcloth only. Buy a dozen or so that you have enough to last between washes.
- Body scrub brushes can be sprayed with an effective alcohol-based mouthwash added undiluted to a spray bottle. Simply fill up the spray bottle and keep it in the shower. Rinse your brushes and shake off the excess water. Next, hang or position and spray all bristles thoroughly while inside the shower or tub and permit the brush to dry overnight. Rinse before use the next day.
- Wet sponges, without metal or plastic, can be microwaved for a minimum of 1 minute up to a maximum of 2 minutes at high power. Let the sponge cool before removing. An Instructive video and commentary are embedded and linked here.
- Prior to using each item again, always rinse thoroughly for about 15-20 seconds with copious water from the showerhead or tub.
Antibacterial Soaps and Body Washes with Triclosan- Do They Protect?
As a rule, use soaps without antibacterial agents. A number of soaps are pure and natural and contain no triclosan inhibitors. Plain soaps and washes work just fine. They do not encourage the development of resistant bacteria. Dr Stuart Levy has shown that strains of both E.coli and Staphyloccous aureus can be triclosan resistant. Other reports show that resistance to antibiotics increases significantly when triclosan is introduced onto skin or mucosal surfaces. This is fair warning to heed and think about.
Here's to healthy and better bathing for all!
References and Sources
E J Bottone, A A Perez, 2nd, and J L Oeser. 1994. Loofah sponges as reservoirs and vehicles in the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacterial species to human skin. J Clin Microbiol. 32(2): 469–472.
Park, D. 2006 Journal of Environmental Health 65:17-15. (News release, University of Florida).
Donald Reinhardt - Think, read, write & live well always. DJR has a PhD in Biology/Microbiology & is a Fellow & Diplomate, ASM Amer Acad Micro.
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