Expert: Germs, bacteria abound in everyday items

MANILA -- You never know where you can get germs and bacteria; an expert said there are many on your gadgets and at home.

Things normally found at home, such as doorknobs, kitchen utensils, and television remote controls are proven to have germs and bacteria that might pose dangers to your family's health.

Our hands, which we always use to touch these things, are the easiest ways for germs to grow and transfer from one person to another.

Infectious disease expert Dr. Rey Salinel said, "Hawak nang hawak, galing sa pag-ihi, sa pag-poopoo, so madaling naililipat."

However, there are even more germs on your gadgets than on your toilet seat.

According to a study by Dr. Charles Gerba from the University of Arizona, a toilet seat has 49 germs per square inch against the 3,295 germs per square inch on keyboards. Cellphones have even more germs with 25,127 per square inch.

When these germs are so persistent that these reach and thrive in our homes, Salinel said the best way to avoid getting them is to wash our hands using an antibacterial soap.

In line with this, people around the world are reminded to properly wash their hands in keeping with the spirit of today's campaign called Global Handwashing Day.