Smartwatch Bands Are Loaded With Potentially Harmful Bacteria, Study Warns

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Owners of watches and fitness trackers might want to look away now: a new study has revealed that 95 percent of 20 different smartwatch wristbands tested were contaminated with bacteria capable of causing disease.

There were no noticeable differences between male and female participants in the study, though the activities engaged in did have an effect – wristbands fromThe study points out something of an anomaly in our usual: while watches and other wearables are worn for most or all of the day, we rarely think about cleaning them .

"The quantity and taxonomy of bacteria we found on the wristbands show that there is a need for regular sanitation of these surfaces,""Importantly, the ability of many of these bacteria to significantly affect the health of immunocompromised hosts indicates a special need for health care workers and others in hospital environments to regularly sanitize these surfaces."Lysol-branded disinfectant sprayIn terms of bacteria bashing, the Lysol spray and ethanol mix killed off 99.

The researchers are keen that their work raises awareness of the need to give our wearables an occasional scrub down – and that applies to"Other potential forms of bacterial transmission and facilitation of infection, such as earbuds or cell phones, should be similarly studied,"

 

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