They swabbed toothbrushes and showerheads in the houses of volunteers. When they examined the DNA in the samples, they found more than 600 different viruses. Additionally, they realized that no two samples were the same.
“We saw basically no overlap in virus types between showerheads and toothbrushes,” said Hartmann.
“We also saw very little overlap between any two samples at all. Each showerhead and each toothbrush are like its own little island.”
The most common type of virus found in the samples was mycobacteriophages. They infect and kill mycobacteria, a wide-ranging group of microbes that include some germs that cause certain diseases like leprosy, tuberculosis, and chronic lung infections.
The researchers hope that further research will allow them to create new antibacterial drugs. For the time being, there’s no reason to panic over the microscopic viruses in your bathroom. According to Hartmann, microbes are everywhere, and most of them won’t make you sick.
When cleaning your bathroom, try soaking your showerhead in vinegar to remove calcium buildup instead of using disinfectant.
You should also replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when the bristles become worn to maintain hygiene.
The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiomes.
