The ball in which you play may contain a load of dangerous germs

Sorry to spoil your child's birthday / drunken bath in the club's adult pit, nestled in a dirty corner, but these could contain life-threatening germs, depending on a new study.

Indeed, these fun pools of plastic spheres can stay weeks without being cleaned properly.

Researchers at the University of North Georgia have badyzed six ball pits connected to an inpatient physiotherapy clinic or outpatient clinics for children with autism.

The swabs were collected from nine to 15 bullets collected at different depths of the pits. On these plastic surfaces, 31 bacterial species have been identified, including eight pathogenic bacteria and one pathogenic yeast.

Of course, there are bacteria everywhere, but some of the bacteria on these balls can cause infections and even death.

Nine germs that could have consequences such as sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia were identified on the balls. Not very worrying, right?

Among the bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis, responsible for sepsis and meningitis, and staphylococcus hominis, responsible for blood infections.

Researchers have found that baseball pits are often contaminated with dirt, vomit, excrement or urine.

"Clinics can take days or even weeks between cleanings, which can give microorganisms time to accumulate and grow to levels that can transmit and infect," the researchers said. .

"Bacterial colonization has reached thousands of cells per shot, clearly demonstrating an increased potential for transmission of these microorganisms to patients and a possibility of infection in these exposed individuals."

Risks for children increase if this child has a cut or a pasture, or if his immune system is compromised.

Of course, the frequency and degree of cleaning of the ball field will also make a difference.

The lesson here: If you have problems with germs or if you have a child with a weak immune system, avoid ball bales or be careful to maintain the highest standards of hygiene.

And, as always, if you see vomit or floating droppings, take them out.

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