Kitchen sponges may be a 'bacteria hotspot' – but no need to worry

Conclusion There's no need to panic about the results of this study. Bacteria are everywhere, so it's no surprise to find them growing in kitchens. The researchers say sponges, being porous and usually damp, represent ideal conditions for bacteria to grow. The study found that one of the most dominant types of bacteria came from the Moraxella family. These bacteria are often found on human skin, so it's likely they got onto the sponges from people's hands. Moraxella are also linked to the unpleasant smell sometimes found after laundry has taken longer to dry, so they seem to be common in the household environment.  The study has a few limitations. As only 14 sponges from one area of Germany were tested, we don't know if the results would apply to households in other parts of the world. The researchers say the relation of the ONU gene sequences to RG2 species provides "only a weak indicator for the pathogenic potential of the identified bacteria" and that they are "not aware of any case in which an infection from these bacteria was explicitly reported from a domestic environment". The technology is not yet precise enough to show that any specific bacteria found growing in sponges causes disease. However, we do know poor kitchen hygiene can lead to infections, especially when preparing uncooked food, such as salad or raw chicken. Bacteria-laden sponges, if used to wipe down surfaces, could spread pathogenic bacteria around and make infection more likely. ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news