The health body continues: “Underwear may contain germs from traces of faeces (poo) and from genital infections, such as thrush.
“However, you can also pick up germs on your outer clothes, for example if you nurse someone with an illness or clean up vomit.
“Germs can also get onto outer clothing if you handle contaminated food or brush against a soiled object.”
Bacterial contamination complications
Gastroenteritis – a common condition that triggers diarrhoea, sickness and tummy pain – can be the result of a bacterial infection.