Good Bacteria Pet Bacteria

After years of being reminded to “wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria”, it may come as a shock that researchers from the Stanford School of Medicine are encouraging people not to wash their hands after gardening or petting their dogs. Read on to find out more.
Pets Team 15 January 2016

Could it be possible that we may be living a life too sanitary for our own good? A recent study conducted by researchers from Stanford School of Medicine in the U.S. revealed that certain strain of microbes living in the intestines of mice raised on diets comparable to those of first world country citizens were at risk of extinction. According to the study's senior author Dr Justin Sonnenburg, the bacteria was essential for regulating the immune system and humans have evolved a close relationship with them over millions of years. “We would have difficulty living without them. They fend off pathogens, train our immune systems and even guide the development of our tissues,” he says. Scientists are even hypothesising that these disappearing microbes are the cause of the increase in allergies and food intolerances that people experience.


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The looming extinction of the intestinal microbes could be explained by widespread antibiotic use, caesarean sections and less-frequent breastfeeding, especially in industrialised nations. Decades of poor low-fibre diets that include genetically-modified and non-natural foods may also be a cause, but switching to a healthy diet will not reverse effects and bring the bacteria back. However, it is not an entirely lost cause.


(image credit: express.co.uk)

Preventing these microbes from extinction could be as simple as not washing our hands, something we've all longed to do as young children. Dr Sonnenburg suggested that simple tweaks in our culture such as not washing our hands after gardening or petting a dog could be a step in the right direction. This helps to re-introduce friendly bacteria into our bodies. That's right, as paw-rents we are in a good position to ensure that the microbes do not become extinct. Who knew that petting our furry friends doesn't just make them happy–it's beneficial for us too!


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Of course, that doesn't mean that we should all dramatically lower our sanitation levels when it comes to handling our furkids as our immune system may not be able to handle such a huge change. Although if anyone along the street stops by to pet your precious pooch, maybe you could encourage them not to wash their hands that quickly.