How Much Bacteria Is Under Your Nails

Report Links Long Fingernails and Leaner

B O South T O Northward, Oct. 25, 2001 -- Long nails have e'er been an expression of beauty, just a new study released today suggests that beauty is not ever healthy.

In a study released at the Infectious disease Society of America coming together in San Francisco, researchers plant that bogus and natural nails longer than iii millimeters beyond the tip of the finger, or the length of a pencil tip, carry more than harmful bacteria and yeast under them than short nails.

A number of deadly, infectious outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units that were linked to long nails prompted the research.

The fingernails of xviii health-intendance workers were tested. Results showed that all of the workers with long nails harbored bacteria and yeast compared to 18 percent of those with brusk nails.

Two germs found under many of the workers nails were Klebsiella, a bacteria that can cause pneumonia and urinary tract infections, and Candida parapsilosis, a yeast that tin can cause wound and blood stream infections.

Expert Advice

Dr. Carol A. Kauffman, co-author of the study and professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan, says that almost people do not wash their easily well enough to become rid of all of the germs.

"Information technology is recommended that people spend 15 seconds washing their hands, and most people don't spend even half that fourth dimension," Kauffman says.

The findings indicate the need for farther research that focuses on a number of other professions.

"The results bear witness that there are implications for workers in other areas, such as 24-hour interval care workers, food handlers and even new mothers, simply no i has yet studied these populations," says Kauffman. "If problems can occur in the health care industry, it makes you think about what can happen elsewhere."

Kauffman suggests that people be extra circumspect to their nails when washing and go underneath them to brand sure that they are clean.

However, even thorough hand washing is not 100 pct effective in ridding the nails of germs.

"The all-time solution is to simply go along nails short," Kauffman says.