Some 442 types of bacteria found on just 13 brass and woodwind instruments in Oklahoma.
Good news if you’re trying to make a living selling brand new wind instruments – sharing creates a toxic health threat.
A recent study published in the March/April issue of journal General Dentistry has revealed that used woodwind and brass instruments could be contaminated with enough bacteria or fungi to bring on anything from food poisoning to brain abscesses.
A team of researchers gathered samples from 13 high school band instruments, all from a town in Oklahoma, US, which led to some surprising results.
“We swabbed the instruments from the mouthpiece end all the way to the bell and we also collected what was expelled from the bell and looked at the instrument cases and we were absolutely shocked by the results,” said Dr. Tom Glass, professor of forensic sciences, pathology and dental medicine at Oklahoma State University Centre for Health Sciences in Tulsa.
442 different species of bacteria were taken from 117 different sites on the instruments, which consisted of two clarinets, two oboes, two saxophones, two mellophones, two trombones, two trumpets, and one cornet.
Many of the bacteria were species of Staphylococcus, which can cause staph infections. 58 moulds and 19 yeasts were also identified.
“We found that the instrument was basically acting as a reservoir for these germs and had the potential to infect the individual who was playing it,” he says
“What was also disturbing is that some of the instruments hadn’t been played for several months but they had the same group of germs. These germs have a very long shelf life.”
One of the most commonly found types of bacteria was Brevibacterium, which can cause corneal infections, food poisoning and endophthalmitis (an inflammation of the internal coats of the eye which can cause loss of vision).
Taking apart the instrument and wiping its surfaces once a week can cut back on the germs, but it only decreases the number of germs to an “acceptable level,” says Glass. To ensure complete safety he recommends that the instrument is sterilised in a bath of ethylene oxide.
“There are good germs and bad germs, but many of these have the potential to be bad,” stated Glass. “They have the potential to produce infectious diseases as well as respiratory diseases such as asthma.”
According to Glass, many used brass and woodwind instruments are basically carriers, passing germs from one person to the next.
Unfortunately, the kids who play these borrowed instruments are especially vulnerable, because, he says, “their immune systems aren’t as well-developed as adults.”
