What are some facts about germs?


Quick Answer

Germs are small organisms found in various places and all over the world. The four commonly known types of germs are bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses. These microorganisms invade humans, animals and plants, often making them sick. However, some germs, such as bacteria, play important roles in the human body. There are about 100 trillion ?good? bacteria residing in the human gut.

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Full Answer

Germs are microscopic, so they often go undetected after invading objects and bodies until symptoms of illness occur. Germs can move from inanimate objects to hands and vice-versa.

The American Cleaning Institute reports that the average kitchen dishcloth can harbor 4 billion living germs, and according to Ivos Limited, a typical office desk harbors 20,000 germs per square inch. This figure is 400 times more than the number of microorganisms found in a regularly cleaned and disinfected toilet.

According to the American Cleaning Institute, about 5.5 million patients visiting the hospital suffer from skin-related infections. Americans spend close to $5 billion annually treating colds -- approximately $3 billion on doctor?s consultations and another $2 billion on treatment. Furthermore, about 60 million school days and 50 million work days are lost each year as a result of the common cold.

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