Sandra Prior

4 Infections you can Outsmart

Botulinum bacteria are 10 times more lethal than puff adders and thrive in low-oxygen, low-acid environments - such as a tin of food pierced by a dent or a container of leftovers sitting out at room temperature. So scan your cans and keep leftovers in a fridge set colder than four-degrees Celsius.

1. Botulism

Enough toxin to kill a person can grow in as few as three days above that temperature.

2. Tetanus

Given that Clostridium tetani can be transmitted by a simple splinter or insect bite, your best defense is to be up to date on your vaccinations - which most of us aren't. If you're due for a 10-year booster or don't know if you're due, see your GP. Then stow your immunization record somewhere safe, like with your passport.

3. Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

You want MRSA to stay on the outside looking in, which is why experts keep preaching proper hand hygiene and wound treatment. But you also need to sanitize your surroundings. High-touch areas in your home and workspace should be disinfected twice a week.

4. Meningitis

This potentially fatal brain infection comes in two varieties, viral and bacterial. And while you can't do much to avoid viral meningitis, a vaccine confers immunity from 80 percent of the bacterial culprits. If you're planning to spend extended time in close quarters with a large group (like, say, on a cruise ship), or traveling to one of the world's meningitis hot spots (check www.cdc.gov/travel), ask your doctor for the shot.

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