“More than 10,000 bacteria in underwear”: Find out the useful life and how to wash the items

They are everywhere. On the keyboard, on the cell phone, on transport. Bacteria live around us without us seeing them, and there is no problem. But in recent years, scientific research into how these organisms invade common items, such as clothing, has intensified – and the situation takes on an interesting aspect when we discover how many bacteria live in underwear.

According to the Good Housekeeping Institute, clean underwear can contain up to 10,000 live bacteria. Maite Muniesa, professor of microbiology and member of the Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Barcelona, ​​believes that “it is impossible and counterproductive to try to keep microorganisms at zero, because we live surrounded by them”.

“And, in our own bodies, there are many. Therefore, we ourselves will contaminate the clothes we wear. There is no reason to worry, our immune system and our own microorganisms protect us from those around us, which, by the way, are not always pathogenic. It is logical and reasonable to maintain a certain personal hygiene and that of our clothes, but there is no need to exaggerate the risks”

she said.

However, it is not reassuring to think that our underwear can harbor everything from salmonella to hepatitis, as Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona, concludes in an article. In the publication, he states that there is no need to carry out special disinfections in daily laundry, unless there are sick people at home.

“Another thing is in the case of healthcare professionals in contact with sick patients, or in the case of having someone at home who is sick with an intestinal infection, for example. In this case, additional cleaning of the clothes with a disinfectant or bleach is recommended, as the clothes may in fact have been contaminated,”

states.

What would we find in our underwear under the microscope

Assuming we are talking about underwear worn on a normal day, we would find large amounts of bacteria from the skin, urinary/vaginal area, and rectal area. According to Muniesa, “there is no problem with that”. Sometimes some people can get a urinary tract infection due to microorganisms from their rectal area, but typically this occurs in people with a weak vaginal flora.

“If the normal flora is healthy and stable, it serves as a protective barrier against possible pathogens most of the time. Underwear will rarely be contaminated by microorganisms from the environment, because normally we will not have much contact between clothing and surfaces or air.”

notes Muniesa.

In addition to finding traces of dirt, urine, feces or vaginal secretions, it must be considered that between the legs, especially in the folds and groin, there is humidity, making it a favorable place for the reproduction of bacteria, yeasts and fungi, which may increase the risk of genital infections, groin ringworm or bacterial dermatitis.

“Although we normally think of bacteria, we are also carriers of other microorganisms, such as scabies parasites (which are on the rise right now) or the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, as well as fungi such as Candida or certain dermatophytes” said Dolo Vidal, member of the Teaching group and Disclosure of the Spanish Society of Microbiology. “In the case of bras, we would find species of saprophytic fungi and other bacteria typical of the skin”.

Dry clothes in the sun

Ultraviolet light plays a disinfectant role that eliminates bacteria, so hanging clothes in the sun helps prevent them. According to Muniesa, the increase in temperature in clothes acts “like an excellent disinfectant” that “will reduce the number of bacteria”. Despite this, the action will not eliminate them completely, since hanging outdoors they will also be more exposed.

“We are surrounded by them everywhere, and there is no need to be alarmist. We don’t need to systematically eliminate them, our body is full of microorganisms and needs them for its vital functions such as food digestion, protection and probably many other functions that we are just beginning to understand. Only some of these microorganisms are pathogenic and can cause us harm,”

highlights.

Discard after six months?

So, how long should a panty or bra last? There is no official or recommended period for the useful life of underwear, as this depends on several factors, such as the fabrics used in manufacturing, use and care given. Although there are countless opinions, it seems that the expiration date is a very subjective concept.

As Philip M. Tierno, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and pathology at New York University School of Medicine, explains, as long as you wash your underwear after each use, there’s no germ-related reason to discard your old panties. after an arbitrary period. They do not have an expiration date.

“As long as you wash and disinfect your underwear, and they are mechanically functional, have no holes, and are not dirty, you can keep them. When they wear out or the elastic stops working, you’ll know you need to replace them,”

says Tierno.

What happens if you reuse the same pair of panties without washing them?

We agree that it is not ideal, but it is also true that sometimes unexpected situations happen. Maybe you didn’t have clean ones on hand, maybe you’re not at home, either way, if it’s a one-off thing, it won’t cause significant damage.

The skin, in general, is a very hostile environment for most microorganisms, because it is a very dry environment, except in areas of skin folds (for example, under the breasts), feet or armpits, where there is more moisture and greater abundance. of microorganisms, such as fungi.

“However, some people can be carriers of certain fungi or other bacteria that can be pathogenic, such as Staphylococcus aureus, although when we carry out colonization studies of these microorganisms in carriers, the percentage of people who are carriers is also high”

explains Dolo Vidal.

Both the vulva and perineal area have a warm, moist environment, perfect for microorganisms to reproduce. Experts warn about the risk of wearing dirty underwear, as it increases the chances of skin irritation or vulvar dermatitis, unpleasant odors, candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis, and even the development of rashes or fungal and yeast infections in the vagina and bladder. .

Therefore, it is recommended to wear clean underwear daily; Furthermore, if you play sports or exercise, it would be a good idea to change your panties and bra after finishing, and before going to bed (if you are in the group that sleeps in panties), replace the ones you wore during the day with a clean pair.

*With information from Folha PE

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