Pathogens in cheese: Case study on Austrian curd cheese

This Cheese is actually made with bacteria 

Next time someone offers you cheese, think twice. In 2009 and 2010 two different strains of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, were found in cheese that got 34 people infected and killed 8. Experts from the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna analyzed the the outbreak strains. They where able to show that the strains displayed distinct properties and that they had entered the food independently. This shows that if food products are not produced in a hygienic environment, people who consume these foods can put their lives in danger. 

These cases are rare, but when they do happen they are mortal. In fact they have the highest mortality rate out of all food-borne illnesses.

One of the pathogens responsible for the illnesses was the L. monocytogenes strain. This strain is very effective at infecting epithelial cells of the intestine and liver cells. It is also extremely invase. The second  L. monocytogenes pathogen strain was particularly successful at infecting macrophages, important immune system cells. leaving the immune system weak and easy to attack. Between these two strains they got 34 people sick and killed 8. 

I know that I will be more careful with food now, especially dairy products. This makes me think how clean is our food. I mean, the fruit we eat is gathered by somebody’s hands and the meat we eat is butchered by somebody’s hands as well. We are practically putting our lives in their hands. If they don't wash their hands or maintain our food in proper hygiene conditions we can get really sick. It’s crazy to think about how something so small that you cant see with the naked eye, can get us really sick to the point of death. It always amazes me how we live day by day without thinking of micro bacteria, which is a world with in itself and can be found everywhere.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140321112256.htm

5 Second Rule!

        We have all heard about the five second rule, but is it True? It turns out that food that is picked up within five seconds or less is less likely to contain bacteria then if it were left for long periods of time. This research was carried out at Aston University's School of Life and Health Sciences.

5 Second Rule

        A team of final year Biology students, led by Anthony Hilton, Professor of Microbiology set out to find if this myth was true or not. They monitored the transfer of the bacteria E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus from indoor floor types such as carpet, laminate, and tile to toast, pasta and a sticky sweet. The time varied from 3 to 30 seconds.

        The results confirmed the 5 second rule myth. They also found out that flooring plays a pretty big role. Carpet was less likely to transfer bacteria, but laminate and tile were very quick at transferring bacteria. They also carried out a survey to see how many people follow this 5 second rule. The survey showed that 87% of people follow the 5 second rule and out of those 87%; 55% are women.

        Professor Hilton summarized this research by saying, "Consuming food dropped on the floor still carries an infection risk as it very much depends on which bacteria are present on the floor at the time; however the findings of this study will bring some light relief to those who have been employing the five-second rule for years, despite a general consensus that it is purely a myth. We have found evidence that transfer from indoor flooring surfaces is incredibly poor with carpet actually posing the lowest risk of bacterial transfer onto dropped food."

        This research really makes me happy, because I usually follow the five second rule, but only in my house. The research also helps us understand microbes a little bit better, because we know now that it takes time for microbes to transfer to places and different conditions allow them to move faster. I also find it interesting that the floor plays a big role on whether you get bacteria in your food or not.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140310102212.htm

Physicians' stethoscopes more contaminated than palms of their hands

Every time we go to the doctor we notice that when he/she walks in he/she washes her hands before attending you, but have you ever thought if they clean their stethoscopes? In a recent study by, the University of Geneva Hospital, they went out to find which had more microbes doctor's hands or his stethoscope? Their purpose was to find out which one was dirtier in the sense of which one had more microbes, germs and bacteria. They choose the stethoscope because it gets used repeatedly and sometimes with direct contact with a patients skin. This makes the stethoscope a tool for transmitting microorganisms to others very easily. A patient could have MRSA which is very hard to get rid of and dangerous and then carried onto another patient through the stethoscope. 

                     How clean is the stethoscope? 

        

       The study consisted of 71 patients and three physicians. The team gave the physicians sterile gloves and a sterile stethoscope. After the examination of the 71 patients, the stethoscope and the physicians' hands were measured for the total number of bacteria present.

The results where what they expected. There was far more bacteria on the stethoscopes then on the physicians' hands, except for the fingertips.

This study is really important because it shows with facts how vulnerable we can be if others don't sanitize equipment properly. This also can help improve sanitization methods in hospitals, clinics and many other places. This article made me realize how important it is to disinfect equipment, whether your at the gym or in your kitchen or some other place. I would have never thought how dirty stethoscopes were and how we can get some kind of unwanted microorganism form them. 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140227134841.htm