Bacterial growth and headsets

[Doc.]

I've read that bacterias multiply faster when you have your headsets on (it said that you get 700 times more bacteria per hour in your ear). It's actually the second time I'm hearing this so I guess you have heard of it too. so when I asked for reasons, it said that bacterias multiply faster in anaerobic condition ( as if there is one stereotypical pineco... I mean bacteria) and increased moisture would also be a factor (granted).

This is of course very oversimplified since there are different types of bacterias that feel comfortable in different conditions. obligate anaerobes can not survive in presence of oxygen at all, so here come the three questions I've wanted to ask

1. what concentration of oxygen is considered to be an anaerobic condition? I mean, if you have those rubber-end headsets, can there enough decrease in oxygen concentration to affect bacterial growth?
2. any idea if these (obligate anaerobes) are the bacterias that were meant in the article?
3. would moisture alone be enough to increase their numbers 700 times?

and 4. at any rate if you change the conditions within certain range you can always find a bacteria that multiplies best in that particular situation so why would it give such a dramatic difference in overall number of bacterias?

p.s. it was not really an article but small "daily health advice".

 

[Andiferous]

Hah... after reading your post I googled and ironically, your post came as the number two item under the topic.

This sounds strange and interesting and very curious. I was under the impression that our inner ears have a number of protection mechanisms - by virtue of their being openly exposed to all kinds of nasties - so I'd think they would normally be able to combat this (but I do not have a very sound background on this). I'm curious to hear analysis of this, though.

Medical literature does suggest that headphones can transmit parasites such as the human louse - and to be honest, and things like this have given me a bit of a paranoia about public phones and such... but I do have occasional tendencies to paranoia due to my innate silliness.

 

[DepricatedZero]

I know anecdotal evidence isn't worth anything, but I've worn a headset 40+ hours a week for the past 7 years. The only time I had anything close to resembling an ear infection was when my top wisdom teeth became infected and had to be cut out.

We should be more concerned with what we eat rather than what headgear we accessorize with. Most of my headsets(only exception is my gaming headset, which has sound dampening cups) sit comfortably on the ear and don't warm it or make it sweat at all, so no additional moisture - and the porous foam should certainly prevent any appreciable difference in oxygen.

Naturally, though, there is the danger of transmitting bacteria in passing between people. Sharing a headset is akin to sharing a hat - there are innate dangers of bacterial or parasitic transfer. But ffs, we need that bacteria to kill the alien invaders.

 

[Commander Eagle]

This could go a long way towards explaining why NephilimFree appears to be so badly brain-damaged.

 

[Aught3]

I've heard that it's to do with the extra heat that is trapped by the the headset. Bacteria love a warm environment.

 

[monitoradiation]

This could go a long way towards explaining why NephilimFree appears to be so badly brain-damaged.

I lawl'd. Hard.

 

[Case]

I've heard that it's to do with the extra heat that is trapped by the the headset. Bacteria love a warm environment.

Well, bacteria like it warm and moist, fungus likes it cold and moist... your choice, Doc: do you prefer ear infections or ear fungus? :lol:

 

[MRaverz]

You've kinda answered your own question here. Certain types of bacteria will benefit from the warmer environment (due to increased enzyme action etc) and moisture. Yet this isn't the case with all bacteria.

Those in question must therefore benefit from the increased heat generated by wearing headsets. This would also increase moisture due to sweating etc.

Anaerobic conditions are those without any oxygen. (Or those with such a small amount that nothing can be done with it) I doubt anaerobic bacteria are thriving due to there being less oxygen at your ears, but I can't be sure because I haven't seen any studies on that issue.

 

[Amerist]

It seems to me that an individual would have to wear the headset for a significant portion of time to affect bacterial growth so dramatically. Especially because most people don't wear headphones for even 30% of their day (and those that do would be facing other concerns than bacterial bloom.) Human skin contains numerous countermeasures to make it more hostile to dangerous fauna and encourage the growth of beneficial fauna--in fact, by encouraging the growth of beneficial fauna human skin and the body make sure the niches that would be filled by harmful fauna is already taken up.

(Insert NephilimFree joke here. I see it's already been done.) ^^

 

[TheRatiocination]

The only reason you should worry about anaerobic bacteria in your headphones is if you have an open lesion around your ear. This is because most anaerobic bacteria are spore forming and will not truly "live" until it has found a host. It seems the place you derived your information is speaking on two fronts:

1st - That AEROBIC bacteria grow faster in hot and moisture, which by most accounts is true.
2nd- That ANAEROBIC bacteria grow faster than other AEROBIC forms of bacteria which is subjective.

Anaerobic bacteria only reproduce faster than other bacteria "in general" because they do not truly start reproducing until they are in a place where they can "spread like wildfire." Unfortunately most of the time this means in severe medical problems in living organisms (tissues, etc.)