The floors of houses in big cities have fecal bacteria. Study proves the importance of taking off your shoes – Today’s news

Taking off your shoes before entering the house is a habit that should become ingrained in most families, especially those who live in large cities. There are more and more families with dogs (and that’s a good thing!), but the poop they do on walks, even when properly collected in bags, leaves fecal bacteria on the streets.

A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology investigated, in New York, the presence of fecal bacteria in urban environments and analyzed how these bacteria transfer between external and internal environments. The findings of the study ‘Indicator of Fecal Bacteria on Indoor Floors Associated with Outdoor Contamination of Sidewalks in New York City’ revealed that fecal enterococci and coliform bacteria are present on indoor surfaces such as building floors, as well as on the soles of people’s shoes. occupants of these buildings that transport them.

The susceptibility of bacteria present on the soles of shoes to antimicrobial agents is similar to that of cultured E. coli, E. faecalis and S. aureus. Furthermore, on city sidewalks, the concentration of enterococci in rainwater is significant, the same study found.

These results indicate that fecal bacteria are ubiquitous on sidewalks and can be transported indoors through the soles of shoes, especially in carpeted areas and rugs, leaving humans exposed to fecal pathogens in the indoor environment. Therefore, it is best to leave your shoes at the door.