In response to Bailey Lewis’s article, “The Perfect Throne,” I am left wondering where the credibility of her assessment of public bathrooms is.

Additionally, don’t freak out about germs, because germs are everywhere. Germs are referencing pathogenic microorganisms; only about five percent of microorganisms are pathogenic.

According to the lecture by Norman Pace earlier this month, Mycobacterium avium thrives in shower heads. We literally shower with an opportunistic pathogen every day, but we do not get sick every day. This shows that our bodies have a means to defend themselves from pathogens. Now that you’re probably worried about M. avium, don’t bother bleaching your shower head because M. avium will just persevere and continue to thrive.

Thriving within your body are countless microorganisms — in fact, for every one human cell in your body, there are approximately ten microbial cells. Microbes help humans survive by producing things such as vitamin B12, according to Brock’s Biology of Microorganisms.

Pathogens are everywhere, but will not harm you as long as they are not in places they shouldn’t be. Just because you touched the door handle because there aren’t paper towels and a trash can next to the door doesn’t mean you’re going to die if the previous person didn’t wash his or her hands. Those same pathogens can be found in your living space, such as on light switches, the TV remote control, and on your cell phone — things that surely you’re touching many times a day.

Yes, washing your hands is a great way to prevent illness, but if you cannot wash your hands or have to touch something you think to be dirty, don’t worry, and let your immune system get some exercise.

Rana Kasper

Senior

Microbiology