What Really Makes Something Dirty: Dr. Sandra Wilks

In a world where news articles claim that your water bottle has more bacteria than a toilet seat, it’s natural to worry about microorganisms making you sick. However, it’s important to embrace the microbial world around us because they play crucial roles in our lives, and without them, we would be in bad shape. So, in this episode of the Joyful Microbe podcast, we’re covering how to appreciate microbes while maintaining a healthy respect for them.

For this topic, I wanted to discuss these ideas with someone who understands them well, which brought me to Dr. Sandra Wilks. She is a researcher specializing in infection prevention and control, specifically focusing on the contamination of medical devices. Here, we discuss how to enjoy the microbial world around us without fear.

With her vast knowledge and genuine enthusiasm, she shares her journey from childhood curiosity to a passion for microbiology. Sandra’s fascination began with tools like magnifying glasses and a microscope, allowing her to discover unseen microorganisms on leaves, moss, and in pond water. She was captivated by the diverse communities of diatoms, amoebas, and other microscopic life forms. This curiosity grew during her time at the British Antarctic Survey, where she explored samples from icy seas and deepened her understanding of marine microbiology. She then went on to complete her PhD in marine microbiology.

Over the years, Sandra’s research expanded to include various aspects of microbiology, such as animal waste, sewage, drinking water, food, and everyday surfaces. Her current focus lies in studying the contamination of medical devices and the microbial environments in hospitals and beyond.

Join us as we uncover misconceptions about what “dirty” actually means, appreciate the wonders of the microbial world, and learn to responsibly share our world with these invisible organisms that shape our lives, whether we realize it or not.

Topics covered in this episode:

• Fear of microbes and perception of cleanliness
• What is actually dirty?
• Balancing good hygiene practices with coexisting with microbes
• Differences between cleanliness in medical and home settings
• The misleading nature of articles comparing the number of microbes on different surfaces
• Need for risk assessment and understanding actual risks associated with microbes
• Definitions of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
• Advice on which areas of the home to focus on for cleaning
• Importance of preserving good microbes and maintaining a healthy microbiome
• Balancing cleaning products with exposure to beneficial microbes and environmental impact
• At-home microbiology activity: Discovering the Microbial World: Create Your Own Agar Plates

Listen to my episode with Dr. Sandra Wilks

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Links & Resources

• Public health organizations of respective countries (e.g., CDC for the US)
• Nature Reviews Microbiology journal article on microbe numbers
• Public transport project
• Not All Microbes Are Germs
• Finding Balance: Hygiene and Harmony with Microbes
• How to Have a Clean and Microbe-Friendly Home
• At-home microbiology activity: Discovering the Microbial World: Create Your Own Agar Plates

Connect with Dr. Sandra Wilks

Dr. Sandra Wilks is an Associate Professor in Applied Microbiology at the University of Southampton and works in the Schools of Health Sciences and Biological Sciences. She is also a local lead in the National Biofilms Innovation Centre. With over 20 years of research experience in a wide range of microbiology (microbial ecology, drinking water, food protection, and now clinical), her main areas of interest are related to how microbial communities persist and can be detected, particularly biofilm development and control. Her current research is focused on medical devices and understanding the role of biofilms in infection prevention and control, including in public spaces.

Connect with Dr. Sandra Wilks: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn