September 14, 2020 You do everything you can to keep your family healthy, but fighting germs in your own home is a never-ending battle. UnityPoint Health
infectious disease provider, Rossana Rosa, M.D., shares where germs are hiding in your household and what to do about them. Here are the four things you should add to your regular cleaning checklist, if they aren’t on there already. What makes these areas and objects so filthy? Dr. Rosa says it’s because they’re high-contact surfaces. “Germs can survive for a longer period of time on non-porous surfaces (like, stainless steel and plastics), than porous surfaces (such as, fabrics and tissues),” Dr. Rosa says. “It's estimated
viruses can live anywhere from one to seven days on non-porous surfaces, but they quickly lose their ability to cause infection.” Dr. Rosa groups common household germs into viruses or bacteria and lists how long these invisible threats can stick around. Knowing where germs are is
one thing, getting rid of them is another. Dr. Rosa says the most effective way almost seems too simple: soap and water. Any plain soap will do, with no need for any type of “antibacterial soap." “While killing some germs requires bleach-based products, most germs are easily eliminated with soap and water. Keeping your home clean is important, but
hand hygiene is even more so. The most important thing people can do is to wash their hands, especially after using the restroom, before preparing meals and before eating,” Dr. Rosa says. If a member of your family gets sick, Dr. Rosa recommends keeping household surfaces clean, washing hands and calling your
UnityPoint Health primary care provider, if necessary. Top 4 Dirtiest Places in Your Home
Check manufacture settings on how best to clean devices, as some are sensitive to harsh chemicals.Viruses
Bacteria
“For cleaning high-touch surfaces, consider using a disinfectant (such as bleach-based products) for cleaning. More importantly, have all family members wash hands often,” Dr. Rosa says.
- Symptoms
- Symptoms of pneumonia
- How Does It Spread?
- How does pneumonia spread?
- Causes
- What are the different causes of pneumonia?
- Treatment
- How is pneumonia treated?
- Related
Resources
- Related Resources - How Long Is Pneumonia Contagious?
Pneumonia may be contagious for 2-14 days.
Pneumonia may be contagious for 2-14 days. Usually, the goal of medications given for pneumonia is to limit the spread of the disease. A person with bacterial pneumonia will stop being contagious within two days of taking antibiotics. However, rarely, the treatment may have to be administered for at least two weeks or more before a person is no longer contagious, depending upon which type of bacteria has caused the disease. Individuals with viral pneumonia are less contagious after symptoms have subsided.
How does pneumonia spread?
Usually, patients affected with pneumonia may cough or sneeze, which creates small respiratory droplets that contain the disease-causing organism. Other people may get infected if they breathe in those droplets. Most people who spend a short amount of time with someone who is sick may not get infected. However, the disease often spreads between people who live together because they spend a lot of time together such as schools, college residence halls, military barracks, nursing homes, and hospitals.
What are the different causes of pneumonia?
Bacteria are the most common cause. Several different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia, including:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Legionella pneumophila (often called Legionnaires' disease)
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Chlamydia pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
Viruses that infect the respiratory tract may cause pneumonia. Viral pneumonia is often mild and goes away on its own within a few weeks but sometimes may become serious and need immediate medical attention. An individual with viral pneumonia is usually also at risk of getting bacterial pneumonia. Different viruses that can cause pneumonia include:
- SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Some common cold and flu viruses
Fungal pneumonia is more common in people who have chronic health problems or weakened immune systems. Some of the types include:
- Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)
- Coccidioidomycosis, which causes valley fever
- Histoplasmosis
- Cryptococcus
How is pneumonia treated?
Pneumonia treatment depends on the type of disease-causing germ. It may take time to recover from pneumonia. Some people feel better within a week. For other people, it can take a month or more.
- Antibiotics are considered the treatment of choice for pneumonia because they can treat bacterial pneumonia and some types of fungal pneumonia. However, they may not work for viral pneumonia.
- Antiviral medicines such Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) are prescribed for viral pneumonia.
- Antifungal medicines such as Diflucan (fluconazole), Sporanox (itraconazole), Ancobon (flucytosine), and Nizoral (ketoconazole) may be prescribed to treat other types of fungal pneumonia.
- Patients may be treated in a hospital if symptoms are severe or if they are at risk of complications such as a low blood oxygen level. Patients may need oxygen therapy in a few cases.
QUESTION
What is pneumonia? See AnswerReferences
Pneumonia: (//medlineplus.gov/pneumonia.html)