You touch it every day…and yet it’s covered in feces

You touch it every day...and yet it's covered in feces
Certain everyday objects are real magnets for germs, especially when hygiene is lacking. And one of them accompanies you everywhere: in your bag, your pocket, at the office, in the toilet… You use it from morning to evening, without thinking much about it. However, this faithful companion could well be a little nest of fecal bacteria. Intrigued? Here’s what you need to know.

Door handles, subway bars, elevator buttons… Many objects that we touch every day are real relay stations for microbes. But did you know that a very personal object, which you are the only one to use, can also harbor a multitude of potentially pathogenic micro-organisms?

The smartphone: a real breeding ground for bacteria

It is of course our faithful daily companion: the mobile phone. Even if it is not, as some claim, “ten times dirtier than a toilet bowl”, numerous studies show that it is not spared from bacterial proliferation.

Research carried out between 2009 and 2022 in several countries has highlighted the presence of various germs on smartphone screens. Result: bacteria, viruses and even fungi can proliferate there.

Among the micro-organisms identified are:

  • Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), often associated with fecal contamination,

  • Staphylococcus aureus (or Staphylococcus aureus), sometimes resistant to antibiotics,

  • Various fungi and other pathogens.

A 2011 British study even found that one in six phones contained traces of fecal matter, largely due to poor hygiene habits. Many people continue to not wash their hands properly after going to the toilet… or use their smartphone directly in these places.

Should we be worried?

So, should we really be alarmed by the idea that our phone is a breeding ground for germs? Not necessarily, according to Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medical.

“Cell phones may be veritable breeding grounds for germs, but there is little risk that they are truly pathogenic, i.e. causing illness simply by touching them.“, he explains.

In other words, there is no need to panic. However, a few simple actions can reduce the risks, without going overboard.

Good reflexes to adopt for a cleaner phone

Here are Dr. Kierzek’s recommendations to limit the proliferation of germs on your smartphone:

  • Clean your phone regularly, ideally once a day, with an alcohol-free disinfectant wipe to avoid damaging the screen;
  • Avoid placing your phone on dirty surfaces, such as in transport or toilets;
  • Wash your hands after handling your phone in public places;
  • Do not use it in the toilet;
  • Choose a washable case, which you can clean frequently;
  • Limit sharing your phone, especially with children.

No, your smartphone is not a public danger or something dirtier than a toilet seat. But yes, it can harbor bacteria, some of which are potentially harmful. By adopting simple hygiene actions, you can effectively reduce risks, without giving in to an obsession with cleanliness.