Concept Overview

In 1860, Louis Pasteur discovered that germs were a major cause of disease. In the process, he changed people's behavior on a global level.

These days, most people are aware of germs and the risk they pose, despite never having seen them. The fact that they are invisible to the naked eye means that most people do not adequately protect themselves and others against germs and bacteria. Building upon our mission of examining the intersection of private lives and public health, we aim to make the invisible visible, in a limited but significant manner.

In our interviews we found that those concerned about possible tactile contamination from public objects employ a wide array of precautions. These range from temporary protection, such as the use of tissue as a barrier when manipulating toilet stall handles, to more pre-emptive protection, such gloves used when clutching subway handrails, to after-the-fact protection, such as the use of antibacterial hand gel.

To most people, such measures are overprotective if used constantly. Some researchers claim that such avoidance of bacteria can even weaken our immune system. The use of antibacterial products in particular is feared by some scientists to contribute to the generation of antibacterial-resistant “superbugs”. The truth is, protective measures such as those listed above can be effective when confronting a local outbreak of a contagious illness such as influenza or the common cold.