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One plant lover who filled his home with dozens of plants now says he has to live in the hospital until he can get a heart transplant.
Participating in a TikTok trend where users pretend to be a part of a fake documentary about something crazy that has happened to them, Houston-based user Cliff (@.iamcliffthegift) wrote in the overlaid text that he was “getting ready for my Netflix documentary on how my 67 plants got me sick and now I have to live in the hospital until I get a heart transplant.”
In a series of videos, Cliff has been posting about his progress since early July, keeping followers updated on his time spent in the hospital since July 4.
The comment section on the videos has been filled with support, while other plant parents expressed concern at the man’s statements, asking for more details on his condition to prevent the same issue from happening to them.
One TikTok user wrote, “What do you mean?!… I have 53 houseplants and a garden! I. NEED. DETAILS!” while another quipped, “Good thing I’ve always killed every plant that got gifted to me.”
Luckily for anxious indoor gardeners, many commenters explained what type of illness Cliff may be facing.
“Pseudomonas aeruginosa is very much something people need to be more aware of,” wrote one.
Another chimed in, “I remember learning in nursing school that [for] those with compromised immune systems flowers/plants are a risk due to the bacteria in the soil.”
What is Pseudomonas Aeruginosa?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pseudomonas is a group of bacteria commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the strain most commonly found in humans and can cause infections in the lungs (Pneumonia), blood, urinary tract or other parts of the body.
“Notably, the risk of pneumonia is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), particularly heart failure, independent of age, sex, comorbidities or antibiotic usage,” writes the American Society for Microbiology.
Unfortunately, some types of these bacteria are antibiotic-resistant, known as multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa.
Patients in a health care setting, like those recovering from surgery, are at the greatest risk of infection from this bacterium.
The bacterium spreads most frequently from contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, person-to-person contact or, in this case, exposure to soil and water.
In another study published by the American Society for Microbiology, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in 24 percent of studied soil samples, though only in 0.13 percent of vegetable samples taken from various agricultural areas of California.
“The results suggest that soil is a reservoir for P. aeruginosa and that the bacterium has the capacity to colonize plants during favorable conditions of temperature and moisture,” study authors write.
‘Use a mask’
These findings are concerning for people who have plants in their home.
In the comments, Cliff warned, “It’s highly recommended to use a mask that covers the mouth and nose while handling soil; this guy (me) lol is the reason why, I believe it even says it on the bags of soil.”
While Cliff’s fans continue to follow his journey, many plant parents are taking a closer look at the greenery they surround themselves with each day.
Newsweek has reached out to @.iamcliffthegift for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.
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