Overview

• Medical Xpress’s July 16 overview maps out twelve everyday objects that harbor harmful bacteria and provides specific cleaning and storage recommendations.
• Pet towels and toys can carry E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, prompting the CDC to advise weekly hot-water washes and regular toy replacements.
• High-touch public surfaces—shopping trolley handles, airport security trays and hotel TV remotes—often test positive for coliforms, enterococcus and MRSA, so sanitization before use is crucial.
• Kitchen sponges and reusable tea towels can harbor millions of coliform bacteria within two weeks, making weekly disinfection and task-specific replacements essential.
• Personal items such as mobile phones and toothbrushes stored near toilets pick up pathogens like E. coli and S. aureus, underscoring the importance of routine hand washing and device cleaning.