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In a study involving 40 adults, British researchers found that the bacteria behind potentially lethal pneumonia could be spread by picking and rubbing the nose. It was known that the pneumococcus bacteria that cause pneumonia spread through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes.
Pneumococcal infection is a major cause of death around the world, and it is estimated that it is responsible for about 2million deaths in children under 5 years of age annually.
People with impaired immune system suffering from chronic illness are also at an increased risk of pneumococcal infections. In the study, the hands of the 40 healthy adults were contaminated with pneumococcus bacteria.
Participants were divided into four groups. The “wet sniff” group sniffed their hands, which had been contaminated with water laden with pneumococcus bacteria. The “dry sniff” group did the same, but this time the bacteria were applied dry, to the back of the hand.
A third group, called “wet poke,” picked or poked their nose with a finger that had been contaminated with bacteria-laden water, while the “dry poke” group did the same, but with fingers tainted with air-dried bacteria samples.
Pneumococcus was readily passed on in all of the test groups, hand-to-nose spread of the germ was highest among the “wet sniff” and “wet poke” groups, probably because bacteria die off more in dryer environments, the team said. Good hand hygiene and keeping kids’ toys clean, could help protect children from catching and spreading the bacteria.