Thick Layers of Bacteria Found on Shower Floors
Risks of MRSA, Athlete's Foot, and Warts... Slippers Are Essential
There has been a warning that the habit of using gym showers barefoot after exercising can pose a serious risk of infection.
On November 14 (local time), the British Daily Mail and other outlets reported that Nick Iker, a microbiologist and quality control analyst with 500,000 followers on social media, released an experimental video in which he directly confirmed the proliferation of bacteria on public shower floors.
Iker swabbed the floors of shower rooms in gyms and other public spaces, transferred the samples to culture dishes, and stored them in a special incubator. After a certain period, when he opened the dishes, he found thick layers of bacteria. He emphasized that this is the decisive reason why people should wear slippers in public showers.
The risk of bacterial contamination in gyms has already been pointed out by several experts. Dr. Primrose Freestone, a clinical microbiologist at the University of Leicester, explained that the areas where bacteria multiply the most in gyms are warm and humid environments, citing saunas, showers, swimming pools, and spas as representative high-risk areas.
She explained that components in sweat serve as suitable nutrients for pathogenic microorganisms such as staphylococcus. In particular, among staphylococcus bacteria, there is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to antibiotics and can cause severe symptoms such as pain, fever, and swelling if an infection occurs. The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom warns that even if MRSA is present on the skin surface, if it enters the body, it can lead to a serious infection.
Dr. Susan Whittier, a clinical microbiologist at Columbia University Medical Center in the United States, pointed out in the American health magazine 'Prevention' that towels used by many people in public showers are also risky. Dr. Whittier explained, "No matter how thoroughly you wash, skin bacteria can transfer to towels," and "the amount of bacteria can increase rapidly in just a few days."
She added, "Towels used to dry your own body generally do not harbor bacteria at levels harmful to health, but if pathogenic bacteria such as MRSA are present on the body, the situation is different." She continued, "Although the likelihood is less than 1%, if these bacteria enter the body and infiltrate the bloodstream, it could require a hospital visit."
Some studies have also reported cases where Salmonella bacteria were detected on gym equipment. This bacterium can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, and may worsen into dehydration or sepsis. Professor Jonathan Fletcher of the University of Bradford noted, "Viral and fungal infections are more common than bacterial ones," expressing particular concern about the risk of foot infections such as warts and athlete's foot.
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