Most of it isn't alive, of course—as you'd expect, a lot of it is made up of things like water, undigested food, and dead human cells. But more than half the dry weight of poop is bacteria.
If not handled and cleaned up properly, these pathogens can survive and come into contact with unsuspecting individuals, increasing their risk of becoming seriously ill. E. Coli, which is often found in feces, can live on hard surfaces for four days. If the surface is wet, however, this can increase up to 14 days.
coli can remain contagious through fecal matter for up to 9 days. Regular interactions, such as kissing, handshakes, and skin contact will not transfer the bacteria. It is recommended to surface disinfect any kitchen surfaces and items, such as cutting boards, that have come in contact with uncooked meats.
Bacterial biomass is the major component (25–54% of dry solids) of the organic fraction of the feces.
Many of the bacteria in poop are still alive, but some are dead — carcasses of species that bloomed as they fed on the indigestible plant matter you consumed, then died shortly afterward.
The concern is what happens when the bacteria leave the body in feces and are then ingested. The bacteria that we are most concerned with are E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio. These are the bacteria that cause the main ill health effects in humans.
Germs that are found on the body, in the air, and in stool can often be found on dry surfaces. This includes high-touch surfaces like bed rails, door handles, light switches, and keyboards. Many of the germs that live on dry surfaces can live for a very long time – days or even weeks.
Your stools get hard and dry when your colon absorbs too much water. Constipation symptoms can include stomach cramps and feeling tired. Constipation can cause other health problems, such as hemorrhoids (red, swollen veins in the rectum). Making diet and lifestyle changes can reduce constipation symptoms.
Biohazardous Waste
Waste contaminated with recognizable human blood, fluid human blood, fluid blood products, other body fluids that may be infectious, and containers or equipment containing fluid blood or infectious fluids. Biohazardous waste does not include dried blood, urine, saliva, or feces.
Cleaning your home
Cleaning with soap and water washes the bacteria away, whereas bleach (including baby-friendly bleach) actually kills the bacteria. Both options work to keep your home clean.
Shigella bacteria are excreted (passed) in faeces (poo). If an infected person doesn't wash their hands after going to the toilet, the bacteria can be spread if they touch objects and surfaces that will be touched by other people, or handle food that may be eaten by other people.
An anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise, good quality sleep, and probiotics are all strategies to put in place before trying antimicrobials or antibiotics to get rid of bad bacteria.
Steps to Clean
Sponge lightly with cool water and blot several times. Apply diluted carpet shampoo (1 part liquid carpet shampoo to 4 parts water) with a brush or towel. Let the area dry thoroughly, and then vacuum. Repeat if needed.
Pathogens potentially present in human feces include Bacterioides spp., Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter, Aeromonas, Candida, E. coli 0157:H7, Klebsiella, Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba histolytica, viruses including Norovirus and Hepatitis A, and intestinal parasites.
Germs have found many different ways to do this, one of which is fecal-oral transmission. Many common infections are spread by fecal-oral transmission, including E. coli, adenovirus, campylobacter, coxsackie virus, giardia, hepatitis A, Salmonella, and Shigella.
Should you have a bowel movement during the 24-hour period, try to pass your urine prior to the bowel movement to avoid loss of the urine that may be passed at this time. Do not allow any of the feces passed to contaminate the urine being collected.
Urine also has some serious risks to your health if it isn't cleaned up properly. Urine contains bacteria, so if its left long enough it can develop mould. Urine contains urea, uric acid and other compounds that can be a risk.
Waste, sitting in a hole under the ground, decays very, very slowly. The relatively cold and minimally oxygenated underground environment means there are only very slow natural processes available to break down the waste and consume or deactivate harmful bacteria or viruses.
Hard, Dry and Lumpy – It is likely that you're lacking fiber and are dehydrated. Try drinking more water and adding more fruits and veggies into your diet. Soft, Fluffy Blobs – Having a mushy stool is on the edge of normal, but it could also mean you're on the verge of transitioning to diarrhea.
Large, hard-to-pass poop can be uncomfortable, but this issue may resolve with simple changes, such as increasing fiber intake, doing more physical activity, and drinking more water. If home remedies are not effective, it is best to see a doctor for further treatment advice to prevent any complications.
In the air-dried state some bacteria survive only for seconds whereas others can tolerate desiccation for thousands, perhaps millions, of years. The desiccated (anhydrobiotic) cell is characterized by its singular lack of water--with contents as low as 0.02 g of H2O g (dry weight)-1.
While different types of bacteria need different temperatures and other conditions to grow and survive, they all need nutrients and water, or moisture.