How long can viruses and bacteria live on a surface that has not be disinfected?

CandyEyce said:

I would imagine it would depend on too many variables, such as temperature, humidity, type of bacteria/virus, and so on. Someone more well-versed with chemistry/biology could probably answer better.

Keep in mind the body (and your environment) needs both 'good' and 'bad' bacteria to function properly. I just love the things u see on TV advertising anti-bacterial this and that. They often do more harm to you than good - just some more fear-inducing marketing getting people to consume.

If you have a more specific context for your question, elaborate.

About two months

CandyEyce said:

A lifetime. just ask 2the9s.

For ever!!

What has been said above is close to truth. Bacteria themselves would die after periods of too dry, too hot etc but there are bactria that love too dry and too hot and would die if the surface became to moist or too cold for example.

The cunning thing about these chaps is that they don't need to "live" to survive, many bacteria live as spores, and viruses can lie dormant just waiting for the right temp, humidity etc to come back to life and have you sitting on the crapper for three weeks. In this dormant form they can live for literally ages.

PREDOMINANT said:

IAmTheTouch said:

You gotta love the skinny geeky types


Afterall noone else does

PREDOMINANT said:

go have some pancakes, and it'll be all good!

Lleena said:

heh heh

It depends on the bug, but if you're thinking about cold and flu virus, they get transmitted in water droplets from sneezing or saliva/tears on hands. Once the contaminated surface has completely dried out, you're fine. They need moisture to live. Even then, they need a host before too long. Side note: you can NOT get them from circulating airplane air, that's a myth.

Keep in mind, too, that your immune system (if you're not immune-compromised) is perfectly capable of handling reasonable amounts of most bacteria and viruses. Otherwise you'd be

I keep getting sick after I use a particular table at the chiropractor...I have to be on the table for about 25mins.
So I'm breathing that air for awhile...twice after using that table I got an Upper respitory infection.

I've never seen them spray or disinfect any of those tables...so if someone was laying on there and got sick their germs could still be on the floor area or the machine parts ...and I could still be breathing in those germs.

Gross!!!

CandyEyce said:

that's awful. It's probably time you changed chiropractors.

CandyEyce said:

So far I haven't washed my hands since November 12th last year.

I've always been curious about this, especially after seeing what them strippers do to those poles in the club.