Prevention methods for bacterial infections (and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use)

[IsthmusSIBO]

Hello, I am posting per the suggestion of @Michael Harrop. I am looking for expanding my knowledge on ways to avoid getting bacterial infections in any part of the body, so the need for antibiotic use is minimal or zero.

A few I know of are:

• General body hygiene
  • Rinsing and gargling with saltwater or mouthwash whenever you come back from going outside.
  • Regular showering (once a day)
  • Handwashing frequently after touching organic and inorganic objects.
• Drinking plenty of water according to your body weight.
• Wearing a face mask (N95).
• Making sure you cook foods at a certain temperature.
• Avoiding contact with people with active infections.
• Avoiding contact with pathogenic animals (ticks, mosquitoes, rats, etc.)

Feel free to add to the list, please.

 

[Michael Harrop]

Rinsing and gargling with saltwater or mouthwash whenever you come back from going outside

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I have never heard of this, and that seems excessive. I have read that mouthwash can be harmful and unnecessary. https://forum.humanmicrobiome.info/threads/is-mouthwash-harmful-should-you-use-it-studies-on-chlorhexidine-and-al.1420/

I have read and experienced that gargling with saltwater can be effective for sore throats.

Since antibiotics damage the gut microbiome and immune system, avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use is a way to prevent infections.

Hydrogen peroxide can be an alternative for ear infections https://humanmicrobiome.info/antibiotics/#antibiotics-for-ear-infections

Most people should be able to safely opt out of prophylactic antibiotics before surgeries https://humanmicrobiome.info/antibiotics/#antibiotics-for-surgery, and dentistry https://humanmicrobiome.info/antibiotics/#antibiotics-for-dentistry, and GBS (Group-B Strep) https://humanmicrobiome.info/antibiotics/#antibiotics-for-gbs-group-b-strep.

There are several alternatives to antibiotics for common vaginal conditions https://humanmicrobiome.info/intro/#vagina

I would say that good hygiene (handwashing and keeping things clean) and not damaging your gut microbiome & immune system are the two main ways to avoid infections.