Apple Watch and Fitbit wristbands are 'hotbeds' for harmful bacteria, study reveals

Apple Watch and Fitbit wristbands are 'hotbeds' for harmful bacteria, study reveals Your Apple Watch or Fitbit wristband is a hotspot for harmful bacteria linked to fever, diarrhea and a weakened immune system, according to a new study.

Researchers swabbed a range of wristbands, finding they are teeming with E. coli and Staphylococcus spp, which can lead to pneumonia.

The tainted bands were made from plastic, rubber, cloth, leather and metal.

Esiobu singled out active, gym-going healthcare workers as a group that might especially wish to take heed of the study's findings in an effort to avoid infecting at-risk patients. The Daily Mail

See also: 

• Prevalence and Disinfection of Bacteria Associated with Various Types of Wristbands (open access) Advances in Infectious Disease