Hot Tubs Are Nasty

“The average bather has about a tenth of a gram of feces in his gluteal fold, which is a nice way of saying butt crack,” says Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology and environmental studies. “That means with five people, you have half a gram of poop in the hot tub.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hot-tub-germs_n_5268919

Girls Gone Germy

One germ often found in these conditions is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can result in an infection called Pseudomonas folliculitis, or “hot tub rash”. Pseudomonas folliculitis is characterised by itching and spots that develop into rash, as well as pus-filled blisters around hair follicles, according to the CDC (Center for Disease Control). https://www.verywellhealth.com/hot-tub-folliculitis-1069434

O_o

Another more serious condition to be aware of is the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia caused by a germ called Legionella, which is found in warm water and can be breathed in from the steam of a contaminated hot tub. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/prevention/preventing-legionella-from-hot-tubs.html

Hot Tubbin’ Fun

For more information on how to not get ebola when you use a public hot tub, you can visit the CDC’s website where they provide safety tips such as “Refrain from entering a hot tub when you have diarrhea.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/19/hot-tub-germs_n_5268919.html