Germs

Germs in Space: Preventing Infection on Long Flights

Atlantis astronauts happily shared the same air and small spaces, with a multitude of surfaces, on space shuttle mission 104 in 2001. They are, from the left, Charles O. Hobaugh, pilot; Janet L. Kavandi, flight engineer and mission specialist; and Steven W. Lindsey, ...More
October 20, 2012
Posted in News
The Olympics of Germs: Mayo Expert Offers Tips on Avoiding Illness in Crowds

Massive crowds from around the globe will mingle in London during the Olympics, and that means a world-class array of germs will mix with them. Mayo Clinic infectious diseases expert Gregory Poland, MD, offers several tips for avoiding illness when you are around lots of ...More
July 26, 2012
Posted in News
Where the Germs Are: New Study Finds Office Kitchens, Break Rooms are Crawling with Bacteria

If you thought the restroom was the epicenter of workplace germs you don’t want to know about office break rooms and kitchens. The place where U.S. workers eat and prepare their lunch topped the list of office germ “hotspots,” with sink and microwave door handles found to ...More
May 29, 2012
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions
An Exploration of 'Germ Porn'

There's finally a name for those who can't turn away from the mainstream media's latest segment on how microbes are overtaking the world -- it's called "germ porn" and it's a favorite past-time of writer A.J. Jacobs, the author of a new book, "Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's ...More
April 18, 2012
Posted in Blog
Sharing Musical Instruments Means Sharing Germs

Germs survive for several days in wind instruments including the clarinet, flute, and saxophone, according to a pilot study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research. The researchers, led by Stuart Levy, MD, of Tufts University School of ...More
May 12, 2011
Posted in News
Survey Finds Germs are Increasingly Joining the Workforce

A new study shows that many office workers feel compelled to be in the office when they’re sick while few take enough steps to keep their workspace clean. A recent survey by Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc., reveals that 65 percent of ...More
October 13, 2010
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene, Hand Hygiene
Sneezing in Times of a Flu Pandemic

The H1N1 influenza pandemic has received extensive media coverage this year. The World Health Organization, in addition to providing frequent updates about cases of infection and death tolls, recommends hyper vigilance in daily hygiene such as frequent handwashing or ...More
November 2, 2009
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene, Hand Hygiene
Pumpkin Skin May Scare Away Germs

The skin of that pumpkin you carve into a Jack-o'-Lantern on Halloween contains a substance that could put a scare into microbes that cause millions of cases of yeast infections in adults and infants each year. That's the conclusion of a new study, "Antifungal Mechanism of ...More
October 28, 2009
Posted in News
Hygiene Habits Getting Worse, Study Says

American hygiene habits are going downhill and kitchen surfaces continue to harbor illness-causing bacteria that can threaten families, according to a new international study released today from the Hygiene Council, sponsored by LYSOL® brand products. Investigators ...More
July 15, 2009
Posted in News, Environmental Hygiene, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions
Sugar on Bacterial Surface Helps Builds Biofilm

The bacteria responsible for chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients use one of the sugars on the germs’ surface to start building a structure that helps the microbes resist efforts to kill them, new research shows.Scientists have determined that the bacterial ...More
April 21, 2009
Posted in News, Disinfection & Sterilization