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Things Less Thought Of... Started by ladyk	Posted: December 30, 2009 at 18:30

I’m hoping everyone will add to this list in hopes of protecting us all (as much as humanly possible) from modes of pathogenic cross contamination less thought of. As most of us know our hands provide pathogens (bacteria & viruses) the legs needed to infect us. One serious and often times over looked cross contamination risk is… loose produce (fruits & vegetables) at our local grocery stores, where selective shoppers touch/squeeze/inspect items and then put them back for the next unsuspecting customer. All it takes is to go shopping and stand back and watch for a moment to see this cross contamination risk in action. As disturbing as it is, you will also see many lick their fingers to open plastic bags, and with same hand rummage through items while selecting produce! This will definitely give pause to the squeamish next time you're at the grocery store when thinking how pathogens are cross contaminated. If you think you are protected by inedible hard skinned produce… think again. As we cut down through these publically handled items (such as melons) we are spreading outer contaminates right down through edible parts of produce. Wash, wash, wash your produce before ingesting. To your health~ ladyk 15955

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #1 by Nancy R	Posted: December 31, 2009

Good topic. Since I keep 9 parrots, I have to be very careful about bring any contaminants into my home. Birds often succumb very quickly from diseases that we aren't even aware of. For that reason, I have to think in terms of dirty floors and shoes. I noticed while in the hospital that many times things fall onto the floors and aren't cleaned up. Anyone walking into the room becomes the vehicle for cross contaminating everywhere they go. I have a pair of flip flops that I use whenever I go to pet stores, feed stores and vets offices. I never wear them in my home. They are bagged and then washed in the washing machine. When I was sick, I was very careful to wash my slippers often. We have to think in terms of head to toe. By maintaining good hygiene for my flock I also protected my humans. 15956

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #2 by ladyk	Posted: December 31, 2009 at 01:51

RECALL The Procter & Gamble Co. is recalling some 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray after the company found bacteria in some samples during routine testing. Spokesman Tom Millikin describes the voluntary recall as a precaution after small amounts of the B. cepacia bacteria were found in the over-the-counter product at the German plant where it's made. Millikin says no illnesses have been reported. He says the bacteria could harm people with chronic lung problems or weakened immune systems. Three lots of the spray sent to stores in the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom are being recalled. The company, which is based in Cincinnati, says it has informed regulatory authorities in the affected countries. Lot numbers are on both outer cartons and the bottles inside. The numbers of the affected lots are: In the U.S.: 9239028831 In the U.K.: 9224028832 In Germany: 9224028833 15957

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #3 by linda mccafferty	Posted: January 1, 2010 at 20:06

I thought this might be of interest ........http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/5_30_98/fob1.htm 15969

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #4 by linda mccafferty	Posted: January 1, 2010 at 20:10

http://journals2.iranscience.net:800/www.sciencenews.org/www.sciencenews.org/Sn_arch/9_28_96/Food.htm 15970

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #5 by ladyk	Posted: January 1, 2010 at 21:39

In response to post 3 & 4… [Consumers can't exactly patrol commercial spinach fields, or the kitchens of their favorite restaurants, but they can make their at-home food preparation safer, both to prevent illness due to bacteria and to help alleviate concerns about pesticide residue. But is washing produce in tap water alone enough to make it safe, or should we be doing more? "Washing is an important step, and it helps, but it can't guarantee elimination of contamination," says Trevor Suslow, an agriculture extension specialist at the University of California at Davis. Pathogens and bacteria can almost glue themselves onto produce and can get into wrinkles, openings or small cuts. That said, Suslow and other experts say it's far better to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, just washed at home, than to forgo them. "The benefits of a diverse diet far outweigh the very, very small risk of consuming contaminated products." What do the food safety experts do? They wash their produce in running tap water—and eat up. For example, Al Bushway, professor of food science at the University of Maine, uses a spray nozzle on his kitchen faucet to clean lettuce and a vegetable brush to clean apples. He doesn't use chlorine washes, since they give at best a "slight" reduction in microbial load. (If you really want to use chlorine, mix a tablespoon of it with a gallon of water, then rinse it off afterward.) With green leafies you can take the extra step of removing the outer layer of a head of lettuce, for example, and then washing, says Michael Doyle, director of the center for food safety at the University of Georgia. "The contamination largely occurs on the outside, whether it's fruits or vegetables." Like Bushway, Doyle doesn't spend money on commercial fruit and vegetable "washes." They do a good job of removing soil and trace chemical residues, say experts, but they don't help much with bacteria. If you're truly concerned, use heat-treated canned or frozen fruits and veggies. Cooking at temperatures over 160 degrees Fahrenheit also kills bacteria, though you'll lose some vitamin C. *And for those with compromised immune systems, sprouts may not be a good idea. "They're grown under optimal conditions for growing pathogens," says Doyle. "Bacteria need three things for growth: the right temperature, nutrients, water." Sprouts grow in a watery, warm environment, and the bacteria grow within them so you can't wash them away.] http://www.newsweek.com/id/124262 ladyk 15972

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #6 by ladyk	Posted: January 1, 2010 at 22:25

If MRSA infections occur in facial areas, any makeup products or applicators used prior to or during diagnosis of MRSA infections should be discarded and new ones obtained after the MRSA has been controlled. Abstaining from wearing makeup with active MRSA infections is advised as the products can become a reservoir for MRSA. In addition, makeup counters in department stores where the same pallet is used by multiple persons are also potential reservoirs of MRSA reinfection and should be avoided. ladyk 15973

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #7 by Nancy R	Posted: January 2, 2010

I recently read somewhere that when women's purse bottoms were tested, most were heavily contaminated with e coli among other things. That happens when you place your purse on the floor in any restroom. 15975

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #8 by Lois	Posted: January 2, 2010 at 05:32

Ugh....I am so glad I just ordered a new purse. The old ones are getting thrown out! 15976

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #9 by linda mccafferty	Posted: January 2, 2010 at 12:41

http://www.helium.com/items/1038021-the-health-dangers-of-reusing-plastic-bottles-and-bags 15979

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #10 by linda mccafferty	Posted: January 12, 2010 at 17:50

http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/bacteria-in-soda-fountains.html 16067

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #11 by ladyk	Posted: January 15, 2010 at 18:04

ATM buttons: Think about how often these buttons are touched everyday. Now think about how often they’re cleaned. This explains why one study found an average of over 1,200 bacteria on the average ATM key. 16094

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #12 by ladyk	Posted: January 15, 2010 at 18:07

Drinking fountains: All public drinking fountains are loaded with germs, but those in schools – contained anywhere from 62,000 to 2.7 million bacteria per square inch of the spigot – were the worst. 16095

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #13 by ladyk	Posted: January 15, 2010 at 18:10

Your kitchen sink: With more dirt than a typical bathroom, and over 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain, your kitchen sink basin and faucet are teaming with germs. 16096

Re: Things Less Thought Of... Reply #14 by Nancy R.	Posted: January 16, 2010 at 01:06

All public salad bars. I have gotten food poisoning TWICE from one in the local grocery store. Never again! As a matter of fact, MANY things on salad bars are treated with chemicals to make the veggies stay green longer. I know that I have been warned to NEVER use any sprouts from the grocery for my parrots due to very high bacteria readings. Especially alfalfa sprouts. 16104

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