Beaches may harbor staph bacteria: U.S. study

[babylonsister]

Beaches may harbor staph bacteria: U.S. study
Fri Feb 13, 2009 6:50pm EST

By Julie Steenhuysen


CHICAGO (Reuters) - Swimmers at crowded public beaches are likely to bring home more than a bit of sand in their bathing suits, according to U.S. researchers, who said as many as one in three swimmers may be exposed to contagious staph bacteria.

They said people who swim in subtropical marine waters have a 37 percent higher risk of being exposed to staph bacteria, including an antibiotic resistant staph known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

"We think that people are the instruments for bringing their organisms into the water and leaving it behind," Dr. Lisa Plano of the University of Miami told reporters at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Chicago on Friday.

"I don't know if that is the only source. The bacteria may still be in the sand left over from other people, but we haven't studied that. These are things we plan to do in the future."

more...

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51C6UN20090213

[Taverner]

1. Wow - I hadn't thought of that but it makes perfect sense

The ocean - the ultimate petri dish

[BlooInBloo]

2. Newsflash: Germs are where animals are.

:rofl:

[Deja Q]

3. Is that because Paris Hilton frequents beaches?

And, no, I am NOT posting THAT pic. :scared: