Overcoming Movement Restrictions

• Bacteria are all over the place. Some are harmful, others are not, and many are helpful. Bacteria populations expand, as they reproduce a few times each hour. But they're self-limiting in terms of how far they can expand. Outside help, however, can spread bacteria to places they normally wouldn't go to.
  
  

Covering Your Mouth Doesn't Prevent Bacteria Spread

• Sneezing is a good example. A person sneezes a lot of bacteria into the air. Covering your mouth doesn't prevent the bacteria from spreading. Here's what happens. The person sneezes, and covers his mouth. The sneezer either wipes his hands on his pants or uses tissue paper.
  
  

Covering One's Mouth Helps Spread Bacteria

• But this doesn't work, as this tactic moves bacteria around. The tissue goes into the trash, and the person continues typing. Her eyes itch, so her fingers rub those eyes. Then she gets up to leave the office and touches the doorknob. If she's going to the bathroom, or down the stairs, she touches the exit door and stair rails.
  
  

How Bacteria Transfer Between People

• Bacteria transfer from the person's hand to the above object. The next person touches these same objects. Bacteria transfer from these objects to the new people. Their eyes itch later, or they cover their mouth when they cough. Perhaps they'd scratch their noses, or eat a snack. Cold viruses spread the same way.
  
  

Wash Your Hands!

• Covering your mouth when you sneeze is good advice provided that you immediately washes your hands with warm water and soap. This is one of the reasons why food service employees must wash their hands before handling customer's foods.
  
  

Other Ways that Bacteria Can Spread

• Bacteria can spread via sexual interaction. They also ride produce and water from one place to another. Pesticides aren't the only thing that you wash off when you wash your vegetables. You're also attempting to wash the bacteria off too.