Microbial Myths III

Debunk common microbiology misconceptions in this 22-minute video from the American Society for Microbiology. Explore myths surrounding household hygiene, personal care, and health, including the effectiveness of microwaving sponges, sharing alcoholic drinks, infant bathing frequency, deodorant application timing, teething fevers, cold recurrence, toothbrush replacement, chicken noodle soup's healing properties, wound care, treating chapped hands, interpreting mucus color, gum digestion, long COVID transmission, flu shot effects, washing machine efficiency, loofah longevity, unconventional acne treatments, and the ratio of bacterial to human cells in the body. Gain evidence-based insights to separate fact from fiction in everyday microbiology.

You can microwave your sponge to “sanitize” it.
Drinks containing alcohol beer, wine, mixed don’t spread germs, so they are safe to share.
Infants need to be bathed every day.
You should apply deodorant in the morning
Teething causes fever in babies.
You catch the same cold twice. Or you can catch the same cold back-to-back
Replacing your toothbrush after you’ve been sick will keep you from getting re-infected
Chicken noodle soup cures…everything
Letting a wound dry out speeds healing
Fix chapped hands with old sour cream
Green snot means a bacterial infection and yellow or clear snot a viral one
Chewing gum stays in your stomach for 7 years
Long-COVID is contagious
The flu shot can give you the flu can replace flu with COVID
Energy-efficient washing machines are a preferred clothes washing method Loofahs are long-lasting Preparation-H can treat pimples
Bacterial cells outnumber your own by 10:1