Infectious disease experts employ a set of practical, ingrained habits to reduce their risk of illness without compromising their quality of life. These routines, developed over years of professional experience and personal observation, focus on simple yet effective methods for preventing the spread of germs and maintaining health.
Kitchen Hygiene
Preventing foodborne illness often starts in the kitchen. Molecular epidemiologist Jill Roberts emphasizes the importance of avoiding cross-contamination. Her strategy involves using color-coded cutting boards, designating one for raw meat and another for vegetables, thereby preventing microbes from raw food from transferring to ready-to-eat items. Roberts also prioritizes preparation order, preparing salads before handling raw meat, and diligently sanitizing surfaces, including counters, sinks, faucet handles, and refrigerator doors, after contact with raw meat.
Dr. Heidi Torres, an infectious disease physician, advises against passively soaking produce. Instead, she recommends washing fruits and vegetables under running water for about 30 seconds, gently rubbing them with hands. This method provides the necessary friction to dislodge contaminants. Washing in a bowl risks spreading germs from one piece of produce to others, and running water helps wash away bacteria, viruses, and even some pesticide residues more effectively than soaking.
To combat germ growth on sponges, Kelley Steury, a clinical associate professor, suggests microwaving a wet sponge for 20 seconds after rinsing out food particles. She cautions against microwaving a dry sponge, as it could pose a fire hazard.
Personal Care and Environment
Torres highlights the connection between oral hygiene and overall health, stating that a significant percentage of infections can be linked to dental disease. Cavities and gum disease allow more bacteria to enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to infections throughout the body. She stresses the importance of mechanical brushing over rinsing alone to remove bacterial film.
Roberts also advises rethinking bathroom rugs. She recommends using washable bath mats that can be hung to dry between uses and laundered weekly. Traditional rugs wrapped around toilet bases are discouraged due to their difficulty in thorough cleaning and their potential to harbor moisture and splash-overs, especially in households with children.
Dr. Cesar J. Figueroa Ortiz, an infectious diseases specialist, makes a habit of leaving shoes at the door to prevent tracking pathogens from outdoor environments into living spaces. This practice is reinforced by his experience in meticulously cleaned hospital settings, where the risk of pathogen transfer via footwear is a constant consideration.
Dr. David Chin-Hong advocates for prioritizing ventilation over surface disinfection before guests arrive. He suggests cracking a window or ensuring the air conditioning system brings in fresh outdoor air to improve air quality.
Hand Hygiene and Touch Surfaces
Proper handwashing remains a cornerstone of infection prevention. Dr. Daniel Griffin observes that even infectious disease doctors sometimes rush the process. He advocates for thorough handwashing with soap and water, which is more effective than hand sanitizer against certain viruses like norovirus. He also emphasizes that soap and water are crucial when dealing with individuals experiencing vomiting or diarrhea.
Steury employs a method of touching high-contact surfaces, such as elevator buttons or public door handles, using the hem of her shirt to minimize direct skin contact. If direct contact occurs, she waits until she can wash her hands before touching her face.
Roberts advises against accepting grocery store samples, citing concerns about the hygiene of shopping cart handles, which can come into contact with raw meat and seafood, and the subsequent transfer of contaminants when handling food samples.
Travel and Outdoor Habits
Torres recommends wearing sandals in locker room showers to prevent contact with damp floors that can harbor fungi and bacteria, such as MRSA and ringworm. She also wipes down gym equipment before and after use.
Chin-Hong prioritizes rinsing cuts with soap and running water over immediate application of antiseptic, believing that flushing away germs is more critical than the disinfectant itself.
Torres always packs tweezers for tick removal, especially when traveling to areas known for ticks. She notes that many individuals who contract Lyme disease or other tickborne illnesses do not recall being bitten. She also takes precautions to prevent alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy triggered by tick bites.
Chin-Hong treats insect repellent as essential, comparing its application frequency to that of sunscreen. He recommends repellents with 20%-50% DEET or 20% picaridin and advises reapplication, particularly during dusk and dawn when disease-carrying mosquitoes are most active.
When traveling abroad, Griffin suggests rinsing toothbrushes with bottled water to avoid contamination from tap water, which can lead to illness. He explains that brushing with contaminated water and storing the toothbrush in a humid environment can allow microbes to multiply.