For many tradespeople, their van is their office and second home. Long hours spent on the road mean it's easy for vans to get that 'lived in' feel. Discarded packaging, stale food and animal hair are a common sight in many vans.
But within every messy van lies a hotbed of bacteria that has the potential to make you ill.
Confused.com has teamed up with the University of Essex's microbiology department to put some vans under the microscope.
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This bacteria forms part of the normal healthy human skin flora, but can also cause disease. It's notorious because some strains can show resistance to multiple antibiotics - so called MRSA or a 'superbug' - making infection with the MRSA variants potentially life threatening.
A common bacteria that can be found on the skin of most teenagers and adults. The bacteria feeds on fatty acids that are secreted from the skin. As the name suggests, this bacteria can cause acne, particularly in cases where the skin is oily. It's reported to resist some forms of antibiotics.
An emerging pathogen that can cause lung conditions, such as pneumonia, and respiratory tract infections. It's reported to show resistance to some types of antibiotics.
A bacteria that usually inhabits the mouth, nose and throat. It can sometimes cause infective endocarditis - an infection of the heart valves - if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
An opportunistic pathogen found in mucus membranes throughout the body. This bacteria can cause endocarditis (inflammation of the heart) in children, as well as a host of respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
This bacteria forms part of the normal healthy human skin flora, but can also cause disease. It's notorious because some strains can show resistance to multiple antibiotics - so called MRSA or a 'superbug' - making infection with the MRSA variants potentially life threatening.
Often found in the respiratory tract (mucus) of healthy humans, this bacteria is also a pathogen that causes eye, ear, and respiratory tract infections. For example, it's a common cause of the conditions conjunctivitis (eye) and otitis media (ear) in children. It's often resistant to commonly used Beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin and ampicillin.
A bacteria that usually inhabits the mouth, nose and throat. It can sometimes cause infective endocarditis - an infection of the heart valves - if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
A common bacteria that can be found on the skin of most teenagers and adults. The bacteria feeds on fatty acids that are secreted from the skin. As the name suggests, this bacteria can cause acne, particularly in cases where the skin is oily. It's reported to resist some forms of antibiotics.
A widespread bacteria found commonly in the environment, it can also reside in air conditioners and hot water tanks, spreading as an airborne pathogen. This bacteria can cause Legionnaire's disease (a form of pneumonia) when inhaled.
This bacteria forms part of the normal healthy human skin flora, but can also cause disease. It's notorious because some strains can show resistance to multiple antibiotics - so called MRSA or a 'superbug' - making infection with the MRSA variants potentially life threatening.
A waterborne pathogen that primarily comes from air conditioners and hot water tanks. This bacteria can cause Legionnaire's disease (a form of pneumonia).
A widespread bacteria found commonly in the environment, it can also reside in air conditioners and hot water tanks, spreading as an airborne pathogen. This bacteria can cause Legionnaire's disease (a form of pneumonia) when inhaled.
A common bacteria that can be found on the skin of most teenagers and adults. The bacteria feeds on fatty acids that are secreted from the skin. As the name suggests, this bacteria can cause acne, particularly in cases where the skin is oily. It's reported to resist some forms of antibiotics.
A bacteria that usually inhabits the mouth, nose and throat. It can sometimes cause infective endocarditis - an infection of the heart valves - if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
This bacteria forms part of the normal healthy human skin flora, but can also cause disease. It's notorious because some strains can show resistance to multiple antibiotics - so called MRSA or a 'superbug' - making infection with the MRSA variants potentially life threatening.
A bacteria that usually inhabits the mouth, nose and throat. It can sometimes cause infective endocarditis - an infection of the heart valves - if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
A common bacteria that can be found on the skin of most teenagers and adults. The bacteria feeds on fatty acids that are secreted from the skin. As the name suggests, this bacteria can cause acne, particularly in cases where the skin is oily. It's reported to resist some forms of antibiotics.
An opportunistic pathogen found in mucus membranes throughout the body. This bacteria can cause endocarditis (inflammation of the heart) in children, as well as a host of respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
An oral bacteria that's part of the normal flora in the human mouth and throat, it can cause problems in people with compromised immune systems. This pathogen can show resistance to certain kinds of antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones.
This bacteria forms part of the normal healthy human skin flora, but can also cause disease. It's notorious because some strains can show resistance to multiple antibiotics - so called MRSA or a 'superbug' - making infection with the MRSA variants potentially life threatening.
A waterborne pathogen that primarily comes from air conditioners and hot water tanks. This bacteria can cause Legionnaire's disease (a form of pneumonia).
A widespread bacteria found commonly in the environment, it can also reside in air conditioners and hot water tanks, spreading as an airborne pathogen. This bacteria can cause Legionnaire's disease (a form of pneumonia) when inhaled.
A common bacteria that can be found on the skin of most teenagers and adults. The bacteria feeds on fatty acids that are secreted from the skin. As the name suggests, this bacteria can cause acne, particularly in cases where the skin is oily. It's reported to resist some forms of antibiotics.
A bacteria that usually inhabits the mouth, nose and throat. It can sometimes cause infective endocarditis - an infection of the heart valves - if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.
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