Potential pathogens from beach sand cannot be ignored

According toLive ScienceMost bacteria in sand are harmless, however some types pose a disease risk.

5 bacteria found in beach sand:

Hookworm

Walking barefoot on a tropical beach is the perfect way to relax. But in some areas, you need to be wary of hookworms, a parasite that can infect both humans and animals. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some hookworms that infect cats and dogs can be transmitted to humans through contaminated sand or soil.

Infection occurs when an infected animal defecates in sand or soil and passes hookworm eggs in its feces. People can become infected by walking barefoot or lying on contaminated sand or soil. Hookworm larvae penetrate the skin from the soil and enter the body. The parasite can typically live for about six weeks in the human body.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

MRSA is a staph bacteria that can cause skin infections and is resistant to some antibiotics. A 2012 study published inWater Research,analyzed water and sand samples from three Southern California beaches. They found staphylococcus bacteria in 53% of beach sand samples and MRSA bacteria in 2.7% of sand samples.

It is unclear whether the amount of staph and MRSA bacteria in the sand poses a risk to beachgoers, but researchers have called for a determination of how dangerous the bacteria are to human health.

Gastritis bacteria

Beach sand may also contain certain bacteria that cause gastroenteritis, or stomach infections that lead to diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. A 2012 study onAapplied and Environmental MicrobiologyAnalysis of sand from 53 California beaches found Escherichia coli and Enterococcus, bacteria found in the human gut. It is similar to Salmonella and Campylobacter, bacteria that cause food poisoning.

Another 2009 study surveyed more than 27,000 Americans who had visited beaches. It found that people who had dug in the sand or buried themselves in it were more likely to develop gastrointestinal illness shortly after their beach trip. However, the researchers cautioned that their study could not prove that bacteria in the sand caused gastrointestinal illness in all people.

Mushroom

Fungi are also potential pathogens in beach sand. Fungi that cause skin and nail infections belong to a broad group called “dermatophytes,” which are found on beaches. They can be spread through direct contact with people, animals, or sand, according to the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

According toASMCommon skin fungi include Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum, which cause ringworm, jock itch. Aspergillus causes lung infections, and Candida causes yeast infections, which are more common in people with weakened immune systems.

Roundworms

Research in France in the 1990s found that T. canis is a common parasite found on beaches. It is commonly found in puppies. People can become infected with T. canis by accidentally swallowing soil containing T. canis eggs. However, the risk of infection from beach sand is unclear.