Diseases due to daily popping up? Nose drilling spreads pneumococcal bacteria

Unhealthy flogging: Nose drilling spreads dangerous bacteria

Although it is generally considered unhygienic, not only children, but also many adults pop in their noses. This can help to spread dangerous bacteria, as shown in a study by British scientists.

Life-threatening diseases caused by widespread bacteria

Pneumococci are bacteria that are found in many people in the nose and throat - usually without causing any disease. However, if the immune system can not control the pathogens, they can spread and cause infections such as sinusitis or otitis media. However, potentially life-threatening diseases such as meningitis and blood poisoning can also be caused by these bacteria. And much of the pneumonia is also triggered by pneumococci. So far, it has been assumed that the transmission of the pathogens takes place by means of droplet infection. However, one study suggests that the rubbing of the nose and nasal dryness contribute significantly to the spread of pneumococci.

Both children and adults always pop in their noses. That can be dangerous. Because according to a study can be spread by the nose drilling dangerous pneumococci. (Image: MAK / fotolia.com)

Children are the main carriers

As the researchers from the United Kingdom explained, the understanding of the transmission of pneumococci is important because more than 1.2 million infant deaths are due to the bacteria.

"We know that children are more likely to have pneumococci in their noses than adults, and other studies have shown that children are the major vectors of these bacteria in the community," said Drs. Victoria Connor of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal Liverpool Hospital, according to an article by the journal "Healio".

"Therefore, the study results in adults are likely to be of great importance to children."

The study was published in the journal "European Respiratory Journal".

Easier transmission of pneumococci in humid environments

To reach their conclusions, between April and May 2017, scientists placed pneumococci on the fingertip or the back of the hand in 40 healthy adult participants.

Once the bacteria had been administered, the subjects were instructed to either sniff the bacteria or make direct contact with the surface of the nasal mucosa, similar to nasal cannulation or nose rubbing.

Contact with the bacteria took place while the solution was still wet, or one to two minutes after the pneumococci had been applied.

Nine days later, Connor and her colleagues observed bacterial colonization in 20 percent of participants receiving pneumococci.

Those who were asked to touch their nose with a wet bacterial solution had the highest rate of colonization (40 percent), followed by those who were asked to sniff the wet bacterial solution on the back of their hands (30 percent)..

According to the researchers, bacterial colonization was significantly lower in the same procedure with a dry bacterial substance. In the case of the "nose drills" it was only ten percent and there was no proof of bacteria among the "hand sniffers".

In the humid environment a transfer of the pneumococci was easier.

Pay attention to consistent hand hygiene

Connor said that adults' hands can spread bacteria, and this can be important when they come into contact with children and the elderly with weakened immune systems.

The researcher suggested that when adults come into contact with these populations, they should pay particular attention to consistent hand hygiene.

In addition, toys and surfaces should be cleaned regularly to reduce the likelihood of transmission.

"For parents, this research suggests that the hands are likely to spread pneumococci, which is important when children come into contact with older relatives or relatives with a compromised immune system," says Connor.

"In such situations, good hand hygiene and cleaning of toys and surfaces would reduce transmission."

Preventive vaccination

It could also be useful to have a preventive vaccination.

For all persons to whom the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends the pneumococcal vaccine, the health insurance companies bear the costs: for children up to two years and adults over 60 as well as immunodeficiency and people with certain chronic diseases.

The pneumococcal vaccine is done with dead vaccine, which can be injected in parallel with others, for example with the flu shot - but not in the same arm or thigh.

Children up to two years of age are vaccinated against pneumococci three times during certain months of life.

This is also possible at the same time as another six-shot vaccine (for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough (pertussis), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B). (Ad)