3 bathroom items you shouldn’t really share, according to an expert

Imagine you’re away from home but forgot to pack your towel, razor or toothbrush.

Should you use other people’s?

Here’s why it’s probably best not to make a habit of it.

Microbes can stay active for a while

Many disease-causing bacteria, viruses or fungi live on cloth, plastic and metal objects in your bathroom. These so-called pathogenic microbes can remain viable on these surfaces for extended periods. That is, they’re able to cause infection for days, months or years.

For example, the fungus Aspergillus can remain viable for more than a month on cloth and plastic. Some bacteria can survive on these surfaces for years. And many viruses can remain viable for hours to months on some materials such as ceramics, metals, cloth and plastics.

But what is the risk from particular items such as used towels, razors and toothbrushes?

Scientists haven’t run randomised controlled trials (the gold standard study design) to determine the risk. This would be when one group in a study is chosen at random to, say, shave their legs with someone’s used razor, and the infection rates of known pathogens compared with those randomised to a control group who didn’t.

But there are other studies that give us some clues.

Can I share towels? If you play footy, maybe not

Less robust studies suggest an increased risk of picking up a skin infection from used towels.

One report from the United States was of an outbreak of antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureas (or Staph, for short) in a group of high-school football players. Players who shared a towel were eight times more likely to pick up an infection.

Staph can cause the skin condition impetigo. But in rare cases it can lead to life-threatening septic shock and organs failing.

In this case, the risk of transmitting Staph was probably elevated due to potential cuts and grazes from playing a contact sport.

Another study, also from the US, followed 150 households for 12 months. Each household had a single child infected with Staph.

When household members shared towels, the risk of Staph transmission increased significantly.

You might think that microbes are washed off in the shower. While washing with soap and water reduces the number of microbes on the skin it does not completely eliminate them. And the warm, moist conditions of the average bathroom encourage microbial growth.

Even if you don’t develop an infection, becoming colonised by pathogens (when there is no damage) can be problematic.

That’s because you may be exposed to antibiotic resistant species, increasing the risk of developing antibiotic resistant infections later. These are more time consuming and expensive to treat.

How about a toothbrush? Think of the viruses

Microbes can remain viable on hard objects, such as toothbrushes. And toothbrushes can cause gums to bleed. So sharing them is discouraged as this can transmit blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis C.

Not everyone who is in a risk category for hepatitis C infection has been tested. And people can be infectious without having symptoms.

Anything that has come into contact with saliva (such as your toothbrush) may also transmit pathogens. These include herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, and Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever.

A person with no signs of HSV-1 infection can still shed viruses and cause infection.

One review found toothbrushes were contaminated with potentially pathogenic species of bacteria such as Staph, E. coli and Pseudomonas. HSV-1 was also found in sufficient numbers to cause infection. This virus can remain viable for two to six days on plastic objects.

Surely a razor’s OK? Not if you hate warts

Microbes can remain viable on hard objects such as razors too. And it’s hard to avoid nicks when using a razor. So there’s a risk of transmitting blood-borne viruses if you share.

Razors, towels and other personal hygiene items can also spread human papillomaviruses that cause warts. So it’s no wonder dermatologists recommend each person has their own items.

Who’s at risk?

If you have cuts or grazes, this provides a portal of entry for microbes, putting you at increased risk of infection. Remember those footy players who shared towels.

Reduced immune function also increases the risk of infection. We see this in:

• babies, whose immune system is still developing

• elderly people, whose immune function declines in later life

• people taking immune suppressing medications, such as cancer drugs, oral corticosteroids and drugs taken after an organ transplant

• people with type 2 diabetes, because increased blood glucose levels damage the function of immune cells and associated molecules.

However, the overall risk of contracting an infection is low on any one occasion. And if you’re sharing a towel, razor or toothbrush with a partner, you’ll be in regular close contact and sharing microbes anyway.

But it’s still a good idea to avoid making a habit of sharing other people’s used bathroom items.