A swab test carried out on a pair of glasses belonging to a contractor from Leightons Opticians has revealed that your everyday specs could be a breeding ground for a variety of potentially harmful bacteria - and it could be deadly. The professional swab test identified six different types of bacteria, including some that can lead to serious health problems. These included traces of Escherichia coli (E.
coli), Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Faecal streptococci. Kiki Soteri, therapeutic optometrist and Head of Clinical Services at Leightons Opticians commented on the findings, "Real-world swab results are eye-opening. While it's normal for some bacteria to be present on our glasses, the variety found on this pair of glasses demonstrates very clearly that people could be more proactive at cleaning eyewear.
E. coli, pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus, in particular, can cause a range of health issues, including inflammation and infection allowed to proliferate near the eyes." The bacteria found on glasses can pose various health risks with E.
coli - aka Escherichia coli - being among the - however whilst many strains are harmless, some can cause severe food poisoning, urinary tract infections, and other illnesses. The bacterium grows very quickly in fresh faecal matter and, therefore, is a good indicator of faecal contamination. In fact, according to WHO : "In most cases, the illness is self-limiting, but it may lea.