Through time, technology has been altered for hundreds or even thousands of times for the sole purpose of helping people improve their production, make their lives easier, make the most out of their time, increase accuracy, improve financial capability, and even make their homes more efficient and safer place to live in, as shared by Uni Assignment.
Unfortunately, aside from all these benefits, some fruits of technology can also pose risks as it can be grounds for germs and other microbes. One of those things is the most used appliance in your home-your washing machine.
Just recently, a drug-resistant pathogen named Klebsiella oxytoca was detected in several clothes of infants who were under the care of neonatal ICU at a German children's hospital. The best thing that happened was though the infants were exposed to the drug-resistant microbe, the babies were not infected by it. Once infected, the victim can suffer to several diseases such as urinary tract infection, pneumonia, septicemia, and soft tissue infection.
ARE ALL WASHING MACHINES CAN POSE DANGER?
Washing clothes in high-temperature water is what most people prefer these days. The main reason is to cut costs. Washing clothes at high temperatures wouldn't help anyone save energy and expenses.
The lower the temperature used to wash clothes, the higher the possibility the microbes can still strive in the washing machine or even in clothes, Ricarda M. Schmithausen, Ph.D., a lead author of the study and a senior physician at the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health at the WHO Collaboration Center at the University of Bonn, Germany, explained.
NO NEED TO WORRY SO MUCH.
Though there is always the possibility of washing machines becoming a ground for bacteria and other pathogens, experts say there is still no reason to become so worried about it, said Dr. Bruce Hirsch, attending infectious disease physician at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
With the environment we have at present, we are all exposed to microbes every day without us knowing, Hirsch further explains. Despite that, exposure to these pathogens won't cause harm in an instant, as revealed by Health Line.
WHAT TO DO?
Since pathogens can lurk in every corner of the washing machine, it is still crucial to invest a few of your time to clean it to avoid bacterial contamination. Use high-temp water and bleach to clean everything up. And make sure to at least wash it once in a month.
