Our skin is like a zoo

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Recently, scientists from New York University decided to find out what bacteria can be found on human skin and studied the hands of several volunteers. There was no limit to the surprise of scientists: as many as 182 species of bacteria were found on the forearms of people, and each species was represented in millions of copies.

The set of bacteria on each person turned out to be completely unique. On the skin of all participants in the experiment, no more than six identical types of bacteria were found, according to Inopressa.ru.

In men and women, the size of the microorganism population differs depending on the pH level of the skin. But even among representatives of the same sex, only one species out of four is repeated.

In the classification of subjects most contaminated with microbes, compiled three years ago by Charles Djerba of the University of Arizona, the top positions were occupied by the desk, keyboard, mouse and telephone receiver.

All this does not mean that you need to run to the sink and wash your hands urgently. Scientists are aware of tens of thousands of species of bacteria, including only a thousand or a little more dangerous. For example, there may be harmful Staphylococcus aureus on the hands. "Depending on the level of infection, these bacteria can lead to a pimple or severe pneumonia," says Mario Venditti, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Sapienza in Rome. "But usually they are not particularly dangerous."

Scientists from New York University, as follows from an article published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, did not find Staphylococcus aureus on the hands of volunteers.

"In everyday life, there is no need to take any additional measures beyond normal hand hygiene," Venditti continues.