Avoiding Bacterial Contamination in Public Toilet

Have not counted how many studies, which have examined how many bacteria and how many types of bacteria are located in public toilets. Is hand washing in public toilets will also protect themselves from bacteria?
The bacteria of public toilets can cause various illnesses from diarrhea to wound infection. Frequent hand washing will protect myself from getting certain bacteria.

Various bacteria in public toilets

Research public toilets that have been conducted from December 2010 until February 2011. The research team examined four toilets in commercial aircraft and 18 public places, including malls, hospitals, offices, lecture halls, conference centers, department stores, restaurants, airport and resort.

Carried out sampling of bacteria and bacterial culture in the laboratory of the places that are often held (high touch sites) by many people in public restrooms, such as faucets, hand dryers, and door handles.

Bacterial culture results showed that the number of bacteria is very much of a public toilet. As an example of bacteria Staphilococcus sp, the bacteria can cause a variety of ulcers and infections that can become resistant to antibiotics.

Besides Staphilococcus sp, also found the bacteria E. coli. There is also a culture of bacteria Enterococcus, the bacteria in feces that can cause urinary tract infections and wound infections. And many more types and numbers of bacteria to another.

Bacterial culture of the places that are often held from 3 toilets hospitals generate 7 types of bacteria that cause two-thirds of infections related to the bacterial infection in hospitals.

The results of these studies have been presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in Boston.

Avoid bacterial contamination

According to Archibald solution to avoid bacterial contamination of a public restroom or toilet on board, among others:
 
1. Just use the toilet on a plane during long haul flights or only if it is necessary to use the toilet.

2. There is nothing wrong if when traveling carry paper towels or objects that can be used to protect the hands after washing.

3. Using pedestal hand when holding the faucet, hand dryer and door handles of public toilets.

William Schaffner, MD, chair of IDSA work group immunizations and chief of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, has a more positive perspective on the bacteria.

"Some bacteria can boost the immune system. We do not live in a very sterile. Want hygiene does not mean being paranoid visiting public places, especially public toilets," said Schaffner.

Another opinion that has been suggested by experts is to carry hand sanitizers wherever we go. The findings were presented at a medical conference.

However, it still needs further research to confirm and strengthen these findings. Because of these findings remains to be considered too early because they have not undergone the process of 'peer review', in which outside experts also examined the data before it is published in a medical journal.