Coffee Drinkers Less Likely to Carry the MRSA Bacteria

Tue, Aug 18, 15 by Jim Couch

According to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina, people who drink hot coffee are less likely to carry the antibiotic-resistant staph infection bacteria MRSA in their noses.  MRSA can live in peoples’ noses without infecting them with the disease, but may be linked with spreading infection.  Drinking hot coffee seemed to cause a 50% reduction in the odds of carrying this bug, and drinking both hot coffee and hot tea was associated with a 67% reduction. 

Fortunately, these findings suggest an inexpensive and easily-accessible way to decrease the spread of this particular germ.  It is important to note that these results were not found with the consumption of iced coffee or tea, so it’s likely the antimicrobial properties of coffee reach the nose in vapor form when it’s hot.