1 min

Bad Bugs In Sandboxes

When researchers in Spain took a look at what kind of germs are lurking in kids’ sandboxes, they found the bacteria Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in 53 percent of those tested. This pathogen can cause problems ranging from mild diarrhea to more serious symptoms including fever, loss of appetite and abdominal pain to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. The Spanish researchers reported that the strains of C. difficile they found were resistant to at least two antibiotics. U.S. studies of playground sandboxes have found various parasites, including Toxoplasma gondii, which can cause flu-like symptoms, as well as various worms, including some from dogs and cats linked to about 70 cases of blindness per year, mostly in children. To prevent contamination, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends covering the sandbox when it isn’t in use; making sure sand that gets wet dries out before covering it for the night; raking the sand regularly to remove debris or other foreign matter; and preventing pets from playing in the sandbox – they might mistake it for a litter box. They also recommend routinely washing children’s hands when they’re done playing in the sand.

Source:
Jose L. Blanco et al, “Recreational sandboxes for children and dogs can be a source of epidemic ribotypes of Clostridium difficile.” Zoonoses and Public Health, July 7, 2017, DOI: 10.1111/zph.12374

Also in this week’s bulletin:

If you are tired of too many prescriptions – and have had enough of taking medications for ailments that may not require them – then my new book may be for you: Mind Over Meds looks at the problem of overmedication, the science that shows drugs aren’t always the best option, as well as helpful, reliable integrative medicine approaches.