Salmonella and e. Coli

[Babyfikra]

what should you do if someone touches raw meat and doesnt wash their hands and then touches everything in the house? Does salmonella and e.coli survive on furniture and other house objects? Can I get sick?

[canalon]

A/ Set the house on fire to insure complete sterilization.
B/ yes
C/ You will die horribly...


More seriously, In fact, yes you probably dis spread some bacteria from the raw meat throughout your house. The questions are how many, and how long are they going to survive? It is impossible to answer but probably not many (depends on the meat, how it was handled, and other factors), and those bacteria do not survive too well in dry environments. And generally have a high infectious dose, so unless you start licking your contaminated furniture, it is not likely that you are going to be sick, But it would in general be a good idea to wash your hands after handling meat.
And what can you do about that? Probably a quick clean of the surfaces that are most likely the more contaminated would not hurt, but then again it might not make any difference.

[Babyfikra]

when should I do a quick clean over contaminated areas? After handling meat or clean the places in the house that person touched after touching meat?

[canalon]

First make it a rule that after touching meat you (or whoever handled the raw meat) washed thoroughly their hand and any piece of equipment (knife, cutting board, ...) that touched the meat, i.e. wash the dishes. Then no need to worry about cleaning/disinfecting the rest of the house. But if it happened, lots of soapy water will help a lot (and remove blood stains too), and should bring bacterial levels below any level of danger unless there is someone particularly sensitive at home.

Now if this is because your toddler played with the meat, and you can doubt that (s)he will follow those rules, it is time to put serious thinking whether toddlers should be playing with meat. All others, including husbands and older kids should be able to understand 'wash your hands'

[Babyfikra]

I have Ocd and I am afraid of meat bacteria. This happened like 6 months ago and i was not able to tell the person to wash their hands but I know she never washes her hands with soap after rinsing meat and preparing it. But because of that event I became obsessed and I try to clean everything in my home. I used fantastik and bleach on in the house like door knobs, light switches, furniture, washed all bedding and clothing from that and everyday after that until I got the chance to do this cleaning. I had a baby a few days before this happened and it was very hard with a newborn in the house and a two year old to clean theway I wanted to. Now since that my ocd has become out of control. I am now afraid to go into my kitchen and touch cabinets and the refridgerator. I think that these bacteria are still alive on these thigns in my house because I never get to clean everything at once..I mean every little thing like wipe down things like a pen or pencil to the babys toys to the couches. I know its crazy but I can't stop thinking this way. Now I want to know that if this happens where someone touches raw meat and is preparing and doesnt use soap to wash her hands, then goes on to touch other things in the home, is there anything I need to keep myself from getting sick? Or does even matter what I do after that day,, because it is already being spread and if i am going to get sick it going to happen no matter what i do the following day? I dont want to continue to spread these germs through my house. I have tried to tell ppl to wash their hands but they think im crazy.

[canalon]

Well I would first recommend you look for psychological help. If you have OCD about it, the problem is not the bacteria, it is the tricks you mind is playing on you. There are way to help with OCD, seek help.

Once again: the survival of bacteria on most surface will vary from a few hours to a few days. Cleaning with soap and water will get them off hard surfaces. Using disinfectant will kill them.
Bacteria do not make you sick by magic, you need to ingest enough of them (forE. coli and Salmonella that means millions), so if you are that afraid, instead of wasting your time cleaning what is already clean, remember those basic hygiene rule that also work for many viruses: clean your hands before you touch food or your face. Meaning avoid touching your face (in fact the mucosa of mouth, eyes and nose) if you don't need too.

[Babyfikra]

[quote][/quote]I have a question if you wash your hands with soap in the sink from raw meat, do you have disinfect the sink after? Also if you think someone spread germs to other parts of the kitchen and you did not disinfect it that day, would it matter if you did it the next day or so?

[canalon]

For your sink, just wash it with detergent and water. You should do that anyway on a regular basis. But most bacteria would already have gone down the drain, so unless you intend to lick it clean there is not much too fear.
Yes it would matter if someone came during that day to lick every stain clean off. Otherwise, there would be less bacteria, so it would be even easier to kill them all.

[Babyfikra]

I have a new obsession that is really hard to get over right now. I am currently afraid to use the bathroom in my house unless it is bleached before I use it and even after bleaching I feel dirty because I used it. I will not touch my waistband after using the bathroom or take off my pants to change them without washing my hands. I feel like I am spreading "bathroom and poop germs" on to my legs while sitting on the toilet and onto my pants when I pick them up after done using the bathroom. I cant wear shorts or anything that shows my legs and will allow the germs to spread. even if I have pants on and they somehow get wet I freak because I think the germs are coming threw. I only feel clean after showering. I also take a really long shower because I have to make sure im clean. Please help by telling me anything you can about the "germs" I am afraid of. thank u

[JackBean]

You should chill out, because the germs are all around and you cannot do much about it unless you will be in a plastic bag.

[Babyfikra]

I need more information..because I don't understand how no one cares about these poopy germs being everywhere

[david23]

I need more information..because I don't understand how no one cares about these poopy germs being everywhere

lol the concentration of eColi from your own body found around the house isnt going to hurt you. Generally the virulence of the bacteria that has been in you is pretty low compare to say someone else's poop bacteria. But salmonella and the other GI germs are a different story