SavvyHealthGirl's Blog

As someone who travels all of the time, works in public health and is a bit of a germ-a-phobe; I am constantly thinking about the germs in hotel rooms. I obsess in the middle of the night, when I have to get up to use the bathroom about putting on my slippers, because I have no idea what is going on with the floor. I often think I should pack my own Lysol spray, but they don’t sell the travel sizes anymore. Darn!!! Well, thank goodness for travel Lysol wipes! Now, for all of you who think that is a bit over-the-top, watch this video on how hotels don’t clean their glasses in the room, then tell me if you have changed your minds.

How many of you are you completely disgusted now? AND want to start carrying your own plastic glasses wherever you travel? Are you wondering how this relates to women’s health? Well, in case you didn’t know, you may be at risk for a staph infection, herpes and a little bit more from drinking out of these dirty glasses. Also, women that are breastfeeding and newborns are at greater risk than others. Staph infections can result in mastitis (inflammation of the breast) or in abscess of the breast. Staphylococcal breast abscesses can release bacteria into the mother’s milk. Which of course can be transmitted to a nursing infant. Individuals with cancer, diabetes and lung disease are also at a higher risk for a staph infection.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I will be taking any chances on the drinking glasses in any hotel room, including five star hotels. Remember, not every 5 star hotel has 5 star housekeeping. I usually don’t drink out of them anyway, but I do store my toothbrush in them. Not anymore! I won’t even go into the other germy items in a hotel (like the comforter/spread). I will just stop my germ-a-phobe madness here.