Sanitary Considerations to Minimize Risk of Infection
Most multiple myeloma patients have a compromised immune system because myeloma and some treatments can affect the production of antibodies and reduce the white blood cell counts. This can leave a person susceptible to infections.
It’s Flu Season. 14 Tips For Staying Healthy, from Myeloma Crowd
Food Safety Guide, from The Ohio State University Wexler Medical Center
Wash hands
The single most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick and to stop the spread of disease-causing germs is to wash your hands often.
Technique from Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Anti-bacterial wipes
Anti-bacterial wipes are used to keep hands and surfaces clean, however, some of them contain carcinogenic substances, such as Triclosan
Triclosan, from the Environmental Working Group
5 reasons to skip antibacterial soap and it´s risks (from Consumer Reports)
CVS hand wipes contain only alcohol as the active ingredient
Shaking hands
Myeloma Beacon Blog on keeping clean
One person wrote that they wash all groceries after grocery shopping.
Everyday Objects That Are A Source Of Germs
- A kitchen sponge may be dirtier than a toilet seat. Sanitize by rinsing
them in water and microwave them for two minutes or put in a dishwasher.
They may be placed in a water bleach solution for a minute, rinse and dry.
Wash your hands after cleaning a dirty sponge.
Replace often.
- Germs on Your Shopping Cart. Use an bacterial wipe that is not toxic.
8 ways to make grocery shopping more sanitary
- Gas Pump. One study identified gas pump handles, since they are not cleaned,
as the dirtiest items we daily encounter.
Use a glove, plastic glove or plastic bag to pump gas.
- Mailbox handles.
- Wallet or handbag. A British study found that handbags were contaminated
with more bacteria than a toilet seat.
- Cell Phone
- Germs on Your TV Remote, depending on where it is placed and who handles
it.
- Toothbrush
- Contact Lenses
- Airplane flights
