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Shoes transmit disease, leave them by the door
Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Arizona, joined forces with shoemaker Rockport to study what types of microorganisms are transported by footwear. Ten people were given a brand new pair of shoes to use for two weeks before having them tested for bacteria.
After two weeks, more than 420,000 units of bacteria were found on the outside of the test shoes. Of that bacteria, 27% were deadly E. Coli virus. Also detected was Klebsiella pneumonia, which can cause pneumonia and wound and bloodstream infections and Serratia ficaria, which can lead to infection of the respiratory tract.
“The common occurrence (96 percent) of coliform and E. coli bacteria on the outside of the shoes indicates frequent contact with fecal material, which most likely originates from floors in public restrooms or contact with animal fecal material outdoors,” said Gerba. “Our study also indicated that bacteria can be tracked by shoes over a long distance into your home or personal space after the shoes were contaminated with bacteria.”
Even more disturbing to moms of little ones – 90 to 99% of bacteria found on the exterior of the shoes was transmitted to hard tile and carpet.
How Dirty Are Your Shoes?
By ELISABETH LEAMY (@elisabethleamy) and VANESSA WEBER
Do you wear your shoes in the house or leave them at the door? It’s an especially important choice for people with small children who play on the floor.
In some countries and cultures, it’s scandalous to walk into a home with shoes on. But in the U.S., most people do. “I don’t really think that much about it,” said New Jersey mom Michelle Ciocon.
“Good Morning America” tested the bottoms of eight different people’s shoes, as well as two dogs’ paws, for bacteria. Ciocon’s shoes contained the most bacteria of all — 66 million organisms. It’s no reflection on her; she probably just stepped directly in something.
In a recent study, researchers at the University of Arizona found nine different species of bacteria on people’s shoes. These types of bacteria can cause infections in our stomachs, eyes and lungs.
The study also found bacteria live longer on our shoes than in other places. As we walk, we constantly pick up new debris that feeds the growth of more bacteria. The researchers tested to see if bacteria on shoes would transfer to the tile floors in a house. More than 90 percent of the time it did. Carpeting harbors bacteria even more.
‘GMA’s’ Test Results
“GMA’s” test results were “dirtier than a toilet seat,” said Jonathan Sexton, a research assistant at the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health. “Toilet seats generally have 1,000 bacteria or less, and these are in the millions so there’s a lot more bacteria here.”
The results troubled Ciocon. “I’m concerned,” she said. “I’m going to make sure everyone takes their shoes off from now on. As soon as they get to that door, their shoes are going to be off.” Children under age 2 are the most vulnerable to the germs we track into the house, because they play on the floor and put their hands in their mouths an average of 80 times an hour.
“That means that your child can possibly be exposed to every single bacteria that you picked up on your shoe […] all the bacteria from the park, the store, everywhere you went that day,” Sexton said. Out of “GMA’s” 10 tests, nine contained coliform, a type of bacteria that comes mostly from human and animal waste. Scientists blame the floors of public restrooms and bird and dog droppings. The dogs in “GMA’s” test came in fifth and ninth place for dirtiest soles.
But that doesn’t mean dogs are cleaner than people. One of the dogs in the test had just been for a walk in the rain, which probably cleaned his paws. Also, paws are much smaller than our shoes, so they carry fewer germs. |
Be Well, Live Long. 