Infections and Control
An infection is the result of contamination from a diseased substance such as germs, bacteria, or a virus. A virus can be just a simple cold (I never had a simple cold!) or something like meningitis or AIDS. It could also be something that is usually fatal like Ebola
An infection's source could be anything that provides the proper environment for the germ to reproduce. The source can be something as innocent as the piece of bread that your little cousin hid behind the commode {food} darkness, moisture and warmth. [it appears that roaches and germs like the same things]
Transmission of germs may occur in several ways:
Insects or rodents. A good example of this would be the rats and fleas that spread the bubonic plague that wiped out a good portion of Europe.
Contaminated food or water
Direct contact through physical contact.
Indirect contact is from a contaminated object to a person.
Airborne contact occurs when infected droplets or dust particles are inhaled.
Contacts with droplets from a sneeze, cough, or splattering of secretions or body fluids also spread infection.
Remember the following to help combat infections.
Wash your hands:
Before and after you handle foods, Washing before the handling of food helps to keep your meal from becoming contaminated, Washing after preparation of foods will help eliminate sources of germs you may have picked up from the food itself.
After handling soiled laundry or cleaning up sources of bodily fluids
Before handling medications. [I sure wouldn't want to take an additional medication. I take enough as it is. <sigh>]
After blowing your nose of coughing, before flossing your teeth, and according to one source even before and after smoking a cigarette. [until December '02 i would have been washing my hands so often that they would have wore away from washing them so much. They would be pink and wrinkly all the time. (ugh)]
MOST IMPORTANT don't forget to wash your hands after going to the bathroom. There are a lot of germs in there!
I find it handy to keep containers of hand sanitizer around that kills germs without water.
I also keep antibacterial soap for use. A good place for a container of this is on the bathroom sink
Here is a cheap disinfectant :
1 cup bleach to 10 cups water
############
Did you know that when people move to a new place that they might get more infections for a while till they develop antibodies?
############
You
may also want to consider using rubber gloves, paper towels and an
increased use of disinfectant.