PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Serratia spp. are inactivated by UV, microwave, gamma radiation, moist heat (121°C for at least 20 min), and dry heat (165-170°C for 2 h) 12- 15. SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: S. marcescens may survive from 3 days to 2 month on dry, inanimate surfaces, and 5 weeks on dry floor 16.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can survive on some surfaces, like towels, razors, furniture, and athletic equipment for hours, days, or even weeks. It can spread to people who touch a contaminated surface, and MRSA can cause infections if it gets into a cut, scrape, or open wound.
While there are many Gram-negative bacteria known to also survive for months, such as Acinetobacter spp., E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens and Shigella spp., the likes of Bordetella pertussis, Proteus vulgaris, and Vibrio cholerae barely last a few days.
Depending on the type of fabric, bacteria can survive from several days to over six months. They live longer on cotton than on polyester blends because cotton is more absorbent.
When you wash at temperatures below 60 degrees with regular liquid detergent, bacteria and viruses can survive on your clothes. However, with Persil antibacterial laundry sanitiser a washing temperature as low as 20°C kills 99.9% viruses* and bacteria.
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.
BACTERIA | Bacterial Endospores
Bacterial spores are one of the most resistant life forms known to date, being extremely tolerant against various stresses such as heat, chemicals, and harsh physical conditions.
These organisms pose serious therapeutic problems because of the increasing incidence of multidrug resistance [1]. Gram-negative bacillary sepsis with shock has a mortality rate of 12 to 38 percent; mortality varies depending, in part, on whether the patient receives timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy [2-4].
Some bacteria have a 250-million year lifespan under some special circumstances. Bacteria don't have a fixed lifespan because they don't grow old.
Household cleaning
Cleanliness is important in the control of germs. To kill MRSA on surfaces, use a disinfectant such as Lysol or a solution of bleach. Use enough solution to completely wet the surface and allow it to air dry. This will sufficiently reduce the amount of germs.
Wash your laundry with warm or hot water, use bleach if possible. Dry in a warm or hot dryer and make sure the clothes are completely dry. Clean your hands after touching dirty sheets or clothing and before touching clean laundry, even if you have been wearing gloves.
However, Staphylococcus aureus (also known as MRSA) has the potential to live in washing machines, as well as other parts of the home. It can cause impetigo (a highly contagious bacterial skin infection) and other types of rashes and is antibiotic resistant, Tetro points out.
Disinfect the surfaces where the slime has formed with a strong chlorine bleach solution. Leave the disinfectant solution on the affected surface(s) for 10 – 20 minutes before thoroughly rinsing away with clean water.
The good news is Serratia marcescens is mostly harmless. Touching it while you're showering or cleaning won't cause any problems (in rare cases it can cause infections through open wounds or the eye).
Suit up and use baking soda to scrub the biofilm off of hard bathroom surfaces. The stubborn biofilm of Serratia marcescens can only be removed through agitation and elbow grease. Start by mixing up a slightly runny paste consisting of ¼ cup baking soda and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a small bowl.
Gram-negative bacteria are resistant to multiple drugs and are increasingly resistant to most available antibiotics. These bacteria have built-in abilities to find new ways to be resistant and can pass along genetic materials that allow other bacteria to become drug-resistant as well.
A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid has been found to generate an antibacterial mechanism which is active against gram-negative bacteria.
Gram-negative bacteria are most commonly spread during hand-to-hand contact in a medical care setting. During a hospital stay staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection such as: Washing their hands repeatedly. Wearing gloves when needed.
The most deadly bacterial disease contracted by human beings is mycobacterium tuberculosis, the world's leading infectious disease with more than 1,700,000 deaths per year. As much as 13% of cases are resistant to most antibiotics, and about 6% are resistant or unresponsive to essentially all treatment.
A process called sterilization destroys spores and bacteria. It is done at high temperature and under high pressure. In health care settings, sterilization of instruments is usually done using a machine called an autoclave.
Why it matters: Bacteria are among the fastest reproducing organisms in the world, doubling every 4 to 20 minutes. Some fast-growing bacteria such as pathogenic strains of E.
Use and Replace
In the event of illness such as cold or flu, a toothbrush should be replaced immediately following the illness, even if the brush was new. Germs and viruses can live on the toothbrush head for weeks and holding onto it after illness increases the reintroduction of that bacteria into your mouth.