Reading a smartphone in bed can lead to pneumonia and sepsis: study

Checking social media before bed is a bad habit many of us would like to break. But it doesn't just disrupt your sleep patterns. Researchers warn that germs found in cockroach droppings thrive on your phone when placed in the warm, moist environment of your bed. These bacteria can cause rashes, pneumonia, and even sepsis in some people, the publication writes. Daily Mail.

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According to a study sponsored by MattressNextDay, your phone may contain harmful bacteria that are commonly found in cockroach excrement. MattressNextDay is an interesting company. Not only does it sell mattresses and beds, but it also has some great green initiatives, like recycling old mattresses and using eco-friendly packaging. Plus, it plants a tree for every order placed as part of its goal to plant a million trees by 2030.

Scientists warn that the warm, moist environment of your bed is the perfect "petri dish" for the pathogen to grow and spread.

Considering the average person touches their phone 2617 times a day, it's no surprise that our devices can quickly become extremely unhygienic.

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Previous studies have shown that the buttons on your smartphone can contain 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

To find out exactly what types of bacteria might be lurking on our devices, researchers swabbed 10 smartphones and 10 smartwatches.

The bacteria from the swabs were then grown in the lab so the researchers could see what types of microbes had taken hold on the gadgets.

As a result, it turned out that the smartphone was the dirtiest technical device, with more germs on it than even the TV remote control.

The most common bacteria found on phones, watches and fitness trackers was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is commonly found in cockroach feces.

Previous studies have shown that one in eight cockroaches caught in hospitals are carriers of this potentially dangerous bacterium.

Meanwhile, many of us take our phones to bed with us. A survey of 575 adults conducted by MattressNextDay found that 74% of respondents sleep with their phones near their heads or under their pillows.

Scientists warn that this potentially exposes you to harmful bacteria living on your phone.

To make matters worse, Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in the warm, humid climate of the bed. The average person sweats up to 700 ml per night, and the bed temperature is usually 20 °C. This creates an ideal environment for the bacteria to multiply.

Martin Seely, sleep expert and CEO of MattressNextDay, reminds us: “Your bed should be a sanctuary for rest, not a petri dish for potentially harmful bacteria.”

Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa is generally harmless to healthy people, in some cases it can cause serious health problems. Exposure to the bacteria can cause eye infections, skin rashes, pustules, diarrhea, headaches, and other conditions.

For people with weakened immune systems, the consequences can be even more dire. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause a range of infections, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and even sepsis.

In hospital settings, this cockroach-borne bacteria is known to be a leading cause of infections among patients in poor health. To make matters worse, this bacteria is notoriously resistant to antibiotics, making infections even more difficult to treat.

Luckily, there are a few simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of infection. Regularly cleaning your phone with alcohol wipes or UV sanitizer will kill any bacteria that may be living on your gadgets.

Be sure to pay special attention to the parts that come into contact with your face, such as your phone screen or smartwatch strap.

Simply cleaning your phone is so effective at reducing infections that Narita International Airport in Japan experimented with introducing “smartphone toilet paper.” These rolls of sanitary wipes were placed next to the regular toilet paper roll for people to use to remove any germs your phone might have picked up in the bathroom.

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But despite how easy it was to disinfect devices, the survey found that 51% of people had never cleaned their smartphones.

Another simple way to reduce your exposure to harmful bacteria is to limit how often your phone touches your face. For example, keep your phone out of bed or avoid using your phone before bed.

"By following these simple hygiene rules, we can sleep a little easier knowing we're not sharing our bed with 'cockroach' bacteria," Seeley concluded.

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