Study says cleaning dirty sponges strengthens worst bacteria

Microwaving a sponge only kills the weak bacteria

A recent study has found that microwaving dirty sponges strengthens worst bacteria, according to an article on The New York Times website.

The microwave will kill the weak ones, but the potentially pathogenic bacteria will survive to reproduce and occupy the space vacated by the nuked ones, a study published last month in Scientific Reports said.

A sponge attracts bacteria with perfect living conditions — warm, wet and nutrient-rich space.

Scientists found the Moraxella osloensis microbe on recently nuked sponges. It can cause infections in people with weak immune systems.

Read the article.

August 17, 2017

Topic Area: Infection Control

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