Re: length of time fece germs live for

Germs, meaning bacteria, virus, parasites and fungi may live for extended 
periods outside of a host and some are naturally free living. Bacteria 
such as Salmonella and E coli, which cause food poisoning, may remain 
viable in food soils or fecal material for many weeks. Many outbreaks of 
Salmonella have been traced back to a continuous source of contamination 
in meat grinders, saws and other equipment. The spore forms of bacteria 
such as the Clostridia may be found still viable in ancient ice samples 
thousands of years old.

Parasites that cause human enteric disease may be found in water, soil 
and in fecal matter. Giardia lamblia a very common parasite may be found 
in its cyst form for at least a month and remain both viable in the 
environment and infectious.

Viruses are even more stable in the environment then bacteria and 
Hepatitis A may remain viable for upwards of a year in water and many 
weeks on surfaces. Hepatitis B may remain viable for many weeks in blood. 
The noroviruses recently made famous in cruise ship outbreaks in 2002 may 
remain viable for at least 30 days in vomit in carpets.

Environmental contamination of surfaces, living environments, soils and 
water are important public health concerns and much research is being 
conducted on ways to inactivate bacteria and virus in the environment. 
Ozone, chlorine dioxide, UV light, peroxygenated compounds, and various 
applications of electrolyzed water are some of the newer compounds being 
applied to the problem of persistent environmental contamination in 
health care, food and recreational facilities.