I was cleaning chicken and i smelled my hand. is it possible i can get brain eating bacteria from doing that? i know it can live in tap water. i only smelled my wet hand no water went up my nose.

Soap and water: The kind of infections from raw chicken tend to cause bloody diarrhea and enter through the mouth. Wash hands, cutting boards and cutlery thoroughly with hot soapy water as a matter of good hygiene.

It is highly: unlikely that you will have any problems at all from smelling your hand while cleaning a chicken. Make sure to wash your hands, the sink and surrounding counter with soap after you are done.