The Secret Life of Germs: What They Are, Why We Need Them, and How We Can Protect Ourselves Against ThemThey're on everything we touch, eat, and breathe in -- on every inch of skin. And despite the advances of science, germs are challenging medicine in ways that were unimaginable ten years ago. No wonder the world is up in arms -- and using antibacterial soaps. From the common cold, E. coli, and Lyme disease to encephalitis, mad cow disease, and flesh-eating bacteria, Tierno takes readers on a historical survey of the microscopic world. Rebuffing scare tactics behind recent "germ events" Tierno explains how the recycling of matter is the key to life. Yes, he'll tell you why it's a good idea to clean children's toys, why those fluffy towels may not be so clean, and why you never want to buy a second-hand mattress, but he also reveals that there is a lot we can do to prevent germ-induced suffering. You'll never look at anything the same way again. |
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acid animals anthrax antibiotic resistance antibiotic-resistant antibodies asthma aureus bacteria bacterium become biological blood body body's cancer cause cells clean cold coli contain Crohn's disease death develop diarrhea digestive drugs Ebola effective environment enzymes epidemic example fecal feces fever fomites genes genetic germicides germs gut flora hand washing hantavirus hospital host human hygiene immune system infection infectious diseases infectious germs intestine kill killer live Lyme disease malaria meat microbes million mosquitoes mutualistic normal flora occurred organisms outbreak parasite Pasteur pathogens patients penicillin percent person phage pneumoniae population potential prion produce Protective Response Strategy protein pylori respiratory risk scientists sick skin smallpox soap species spread Staphylococcus aureus stomach strains strep surface survive symptoms tampons therapy ticks tion toxic shock syndrome toxins transmitted tuberculosis ulcers United vaccines vaginal viral virus viruses women York City