These situations happen quite often. In such cases, you should never use someone else’s personal hygiene items. Moreover, it’s best not to make a habit of it. Germs on towels, razors, and toothbrushes can remain active for a long time.
Many harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi reside in the on fabric, plastic, and metal surfaces. These pathogenic microbes can survive for extended periods. They can cause infections for days, months, or even years, according to Tea van de Mortel, an honorary professor of nursing at Griffith University in Australia.
So, what are the risks associated with using someone else’s towels, razors, and toothbrushes? Professor Mortel states that numerous studies provide answers to this question.
Is it okay to share towels?
If, for example, you play soccer, the answer is no. A report from the New York City Department of Health and Hygiene discussed an outbreak of a caused by antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) in a school soccer team. Players who shared a towel contracted the infection eight times more frequently, as reported by Science Alert.
Staph can cause skin conditions like impetigo. In some cases, it can lead to life-threatening septic shock and organ failure.
Biologists from the University of Chicago and the University of Washington monitored 150 families, each with one child infected with Staph, over the course of a year. When family members used shared towels, the risk of Staph transmission significantly increased.
Some people assume that germs can be easily washed away in the . In reality, while soap and water reduce the number of microorganisms on the skin, they do not eliminate them entirely. Additionally, the warm and humid environment of the bathroom promotes their growth. Even if you don’t develop an infection, the colonization of your body by pathogens can lead to problems.
For instance, you may be exposed to antibiotic-resistant strains, which could increase the risk of developing certain infections that require extensive treatment and medication in the future.
What about toothbrushes?
Germs can remain viable on toothbrushes for a long time, warns Professor Mortel.
Moreover, often cause gum bleeding. Therefore, they should never be shared, as they can transmit dangerous viruses like hepatitis C through blood.
It’s also important to remember that any item that has come into contact with saliva can transmit pathogens. This includes the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which is associated with cold sores, and the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis.
A team of researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (USA) found that the toothbrushes of study participants were contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria, such as Staph, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They also detected HSV-1 on the brushes in quantities sufficient to cause infection.
And finally, what about razors?
When using a razor, it’s hard to avoid cuts. Therefore, sharing a razor poses a risk of transmitting viruses through blood. Additionally, razors, like towels and other personal hygiene items, can spread the human papillomavirus, explained Professor Mortel.
Thus, it’s clear why dermatologists recommend that everyone have their own personal hygiene items that should never be shared.
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