Health Topic

Germs and Hygiene

Stopping the spread of germs is as easy as thoroughly washing your hands or covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Raise your hygiene IQ here.

Reviewed Reviewed by a registered pharmacistGeneral information

Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

About Germs and Hygiene

Germs are microorganisms. This means that they can be seen only through a microscope. They can be found everywhere - in the air, soil, and water. There are also germs on your skin and in your body. Many germs live in and on our bodies without causing harm. Some even help us to stay healthy. But some germs can make you sick. Infectious diseases are diseases that are caused by germs.

The main types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

There are different ways that germs can spread, including:

  • Through touching a person who has the germs or making other close contact with them, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing cups or eating utensils
  • Through breathing air after a person with the germs coughs or sneezes
  • Through touching the feces (poop) of someone who has the germs, such as changing diapers, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Through touching objects and surfaces that have germs on them, then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • From mother to baby during pregnancy and/or childbirth
  • From insect or animal bites
  • From contaminated food, water, soil, or plants

You can help protect yourself and others from germs:

  • When you have to cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow
  • Wash your hands well and often. You should scrub them for at least 20 seconds. It is important to do this when you are most likely to get and spread germs: Before, during, and after preparing food
  • Before eating food
  • Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
  • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  • After using the toilet
  • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
  • After handling pet food or pet treats
  • After touching garbage

It sits within Infections and Skin, Hair and Nails.

When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.

Where to read more

Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.

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Prevention and Risk Factors

Clinical Trials

Medical subject headings

Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Hand Sanitizers, Disinfection, Hand Hygiene. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.

This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Germs and Hygiene, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.