I write this blog on the eve of my vacation. Tomorrow, regardless of the fact that I have
to get up at an unreasonable hour, I will be sitting in a warm tropical climate
by mid-afternoon. This is particularly inviting,
since this week has been cold, windy and snowy (-8 to -12 0C / 10 to
17 0F - not including wind chill - and about 10 inches of snow the
last couple of days). I am DONE with
winter.
to get up at an unreasonable hour, I will be sitting in a warm tropical climate
by mid-afternoon. This is particularly inviting,
since this week has been cold, windy and snowy (-8 to -12 0C / 10 to
17 0F - not including wind chill - and about 10 inches of snow the
last couple of days). I am DONE with
winter.
In preparation for my trip, I have taken my Dukoral to protect myself against heat-labile
producing enterotoxigenic E. coli (I
will say, had I realized that sodium hydrogen carbonate powder was part of the
vaccine, I may have passed). I have also
packed enough hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to ensure I am completely
covered and have no fear of touching the TV remote in my hotel room! So as I finish the last of my packing and was
scrolling through my e-newsletter, I came across a study by researchers at the
University of Geneva titled “Assessing
the Likelihood of Hand-to-Hand Cross-Transmission of Bacteria: An Experimental
Study” that looked at how much E.
coli needed to be present on a person’s hands in order to be potentially
transmitted to another person, I knew I had to read it.
producing enterotoxigenic E. coli (I
will say, had I realized that sodium hydrogen carbonate powder was part of the
vaccine, I may have passed). I have also
packed enough hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes to ensure I am completely
covered and have no fear of touching the TV remote in my hotel room! So as I finish the last of my packing and was
scrolling through my e-newsletter, I came across a study by researchers at the
University of Geneva titled “Assessing
the Likelihood of Hand-to-Hand Cross-Transmission of Bacteria: An Experimental
Study” that looked at how much E.
coli needed to be present on a person’s hands in order to be potentially
transmitted to another person, I knew I had to read it.
According to the researchers, only 1 Log10 of viable
E. coli cells need to present for transmission.
The study used healthcare worker pairs (e.g. a “transmitter” and a host)
and increased the amount of E. coli
present on the “transmitters” hands. The
“transmitter” then held the hand of the “host” for 1 minute. In the end, the study found that hand-to-hand
transmission of E. coli was 8.22
times more likely when the viable bacterial count on the “transmitter” hand was
>1 Log10. If the viable
cell concentration increased to 4 Log10, the Odds Ratio increased to
212.6 times! GROSS!
E. coli cells need to present for transmission.
The study used healthcare worker pairs (e.g. a “transmitter” and a host)
and increased the amount of E. coli
present on the “transmitters” hands. The
“transmitter” then held the hand of the “host” for 1 minute. In the end, the study found that hand-to-hand
transmission of E. coli was 8.22
times more likely when the viable bacterial count on the “transmitter” hand was
>1 Log10. If the viable
cell concentration increased to 4 Log10, the Odds Ratio increased to
212.6 times! GROSS!
In doing a bit of “Googling”, the Minnesota State Department
of Health has a poster that states there are 1500 bacteria on each square
centimeter of your hand. Knowing that 1 Log10 is just a fancy way of
saying “approx. 10 bacteria”, then in theory, at any given time it is possible
for a person to have enough E. coli
on their hands to lead to transmission.
Further, according to a 2013 study by Michigan State University, researchers
found men were much more likely to just rinse their hands than women after
using the restroom. Other research on
hand hygiene suggests just 37% of men and 61% of women wash their hands (with
soap) after using the restroom.
of Health has a poster that states there are 1500 bacteria on each square
centimeter of your hand. Knowing that 1 Log10 is just a fancy way of
saying “approx. 10 bacteria”, then in theory, at any given time it is possible
for a person to have enough E. coli
on their hands to lead to transmission.
Further, according to a 2013 study by Michigan State University, researchers
found men were much more likely to just rinse their hands than women after
using the restroom. Other research on
hand hygiene suggests just 37% of men and 61% of women wash their hands (with
soap) after using the restroom.
What does this mean to me?
Well, it means that while I “should” be protected from enterotoxigenic E. coli after drinking that nasty
Dukoral concoction, there could still be enough pathogenic bacteria on the
hands of the housekeeping, wait staff and/or cooks to sink a small ship (aka my
vacation). I can’t control everyone, but
you can bet I am going to try in earnest to only use female waitresses while on
vacation – not because women rule, but at least I have a higher chance that she
will have washed her hands after using the restroom, and so “should” have fewer
“poop-related” bugs on her hands!
Well, it means that while I “should” be protected from enterotoxigenic E. coli after drinking that nasty
Dukoral concoction, there could still be enough pathogenic bacteria on the
hands of the housekeeping, wait staff and/or cooks to sink a small ship (aka my
vacation). I can’t control everyone, but
you can bet I am going to try in earnest to only use female waitresses while on
vacation – not because women rule, but at least I have a higher chance that she
will have washed her hands after using the restroom, and so “should” have fewer
“poop-related” bugs on her hands!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
