This is a worthwhile read – from Judy Stone – on germs on kitchen sponges. “The brouhaha about germs on kitchen sponges is much ado about nothing. Put it in perspective with these tidbits.” Source: Germs On Your Kitchen Sponge? Get a Grip!
Couples who live together share many things: Bedrooms, bathrooms, food, and even bacteria. After analyzing skin microbiomes from cohabitating couples, microbial ecologists at the University of Waterloo, in Canada, found that people who live together significantly influence the microbial communities on each other’s skin. I am the Public Relations Coordinator at the American Society for …
There is a very interesting article by Kate Baggaley in Popular Science from a few weeks ago that is definitely worth a look. “Bacteria and fungi are a menace to paintings, sculptures, and ancient artifacts.” Source: The world’s art is under attack—by microbes | Popular Science It discusses how microbes are damaging various kinds of …
Just a quick post here. Another story on Legionnaires Disease. This time the bacteria behind it was found in the NY Police Station. Source: Bacteria Behind Legionnaires’ Disease Found at New York Police Station – The New York Times From the article Traces of the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease have been found in the water …
This new paper may be of interest: Source: Disparate Antibiotic Resistance Gene Quantities Revealed across 4 Major Cities in California: A Survey in Drinking Water, Air, and Soil at 24 Public Parks – ACS Omega (ACS Publications) Abstract: Widespread prevalence of multidrug and pandrug-resistant bacteria has prompted substantial concern over the global dissemination of antibiotic …
Catching up after a couple of busy weeks. Microbes in the hospital Diversity changes of microbial communities into hospital surface environments – Rika Yano – Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy ($31.50) Previous works have demonstrated considerable variability in hospital cleanliness in Japan, suggesting that contamination is driven by factors that are currently poorly controlled. We undertook 16S …
Just a quick post here. There is a “special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).” that may be of interest. The issue is on “Emerging Aquatic Microbial and Chemical Contaminants of Concern and Their Impact on Human Health” and it currently has seven papers and apparently more coming. A brief …
Over the past 60 years, the number of new diseases cropping up in a decade has almost quadrupled. “We’re in a hyperinfectious world,” says one scientist. Worth checking out this story on NPR’s Goats and Soda by Michaeleen Doucleff. See MAP: Find Out What New Viruses Are Emerging In Your Backyard
Quick post here: Of possible interest: Microbiome sharing between children, livestock and household surfaces in western Kenya in PLOS One. Abstract below The gut microbiome community structure and development are associated with several health outcomes in young children. To determine the household influences of gut microbiome structure, we assessed microbial sharing within households in western Kenya …
So I was searching for any new announcements from the White House about bacteria and I stumbled upon this report from ITV Source: Police issue health warning over derelict building contaminated by bacterial infection In the story they report that the White House is infested with leptospirosis causing bacteria. Quite a shock but it could …