2008 Woodie Awards
Pride Investigates: Top 5 dirtiest places on campus
Amy Salisbury
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Features
According to the Center for Disease Control, the 2007-2008 Flu Season is one of the worst on record. Some U.S. health officials believe the severity is due to an ineffective flu vaccine while others say the influenza strain's increasing antiviral resistance is to blame. Either way, bacteria and viruses are virtually inescapable.
Avoidance combined with prevention seems to be the best way to steer clear of infection. But what to evade? The following list draws from numerous medical studies and professional opinions to try to shed light on what are most likely the grimiest places on our campus.
1. Drinking Fountains
More like a rather large Petri dish. Robert Donofrio, PhD, director of microbiology for NSF International, found as many as 2.7 million bacteria on any given square inch of a public water spigot (compared to a measly 49 on a public toilet seat) through an independent study conducted in 2005. The reason for the incredible amount of bacteria is because the faucet is always wet, creating one marvelous environment for E. coli, staphylococcus, and a whole host of other tummy-turning microorganisms. If you must, run the water for about 15 seconds before taking a sip as a way of clearing a portion of the existing bacteria.
2. Classrooms
That's right. Those things you're stuck in all day. University of Arizona researchers found that classroom desks have 20 times the amount of bacteria as you would find on an ordinary workplace desk; 7 times that of a doctor's office. "Desks are really bacteria cafeterias," says Charles Gerba, microbiologist. A classroom desk has the capacity to support 10 million microorganisms at any given time. What's more, the desk you're at can keep a cold or flu bug viable for 72 hours, long enough to transfer them to several people. Anti-bacterial wipes can offer much appreciated peace of mind; they do kill 99% of surface germs.
3. Restroom Doors
Think about it. Every single person going in or out of the bathroom has to touch the same place. As said by the American Society of Microbiologists, approximately 68% of people actually wash their hands before leaving the restroom. So, that means that nearly one third of people have the ability to transfer the urine and fecal matter from several people to the restroom door, giving everyone the opportunity to share in the excitement. Lovely. Rule of thumb: say your ABCs while you wash your hands as a good 20 seconds will cleanse thoroughly.
4. Stair Handrails
It's no secret that CSUSM has a rather hefty number of stairs on campus, which provides an unusually high prospect for germs to be exposed to a number of students. Microbes open to the elements are able to survive for about two hours on the metal, non-porous painted stair rails. As frightening as it is, researchers have found everything from streptococcus, staphylococcus, salmonella and shigella (the culprits behind dysentery), and even blood harboring hepatitis A. When it comes to a surface as common as stair railing, all I can say is this: just don't touch.
5. Vending Machines
Essentially, outdoor things with buttons on them are ghastly. If you buy your parking permits by the day, that keypad you touch can have 3,295 bacteria per square inch. Maybe you've decided to bypass the drinking fountain for bottled water. A vast improvement, yes, but the array of germs on the outside of the machine could transfer from the button, to your hand, to the bottle top, right on into your mouth. Not only that, but paper money is one of the dirtiest things you can handle. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers come in quite handy in these situations, but be careful as overuse can cause your immune system to weaken.
As simple as it may seem, proper hand washing technique is truly your best defense against infection. If the faucet isn't automatic, use a paper towel to turn it on. The soap you use doesn't need to be antibacterial, but you must lather well, being sure not to ignore your wrists or forget about your fingernails. After about 20 seconds rinse thoroughly, and choose a paper towel over an air dryer, as it can blow bacteria all over your freshly washed hands. Don't rely on the alcohol-based hand sanitizers either; there's no substitute for soap and water.
Avoidance combined with prevention seems to be the best way to steer clear of infection. But what to evade? The following list draws from numerous medical studies and professional opinions to try to shed light on what are most likely the grimiest places on our campus.
1. Drinking Fountains
More like a rather large Petri dish. Robert Donofrio, PhD, director of microbiology for NSF International, found as many as 2.7 million bacteria on any given square inch of a public water spigot (compared to a measly 49 on a public toilet seat) through an independent study conducted in 2005. The reason for the incredible amount of bacteria is because the faucet is always wet, creating one marvelous environment for E. coli, staphylococcus, and a whole host of other tummy-turning microorganisms. If you must, run the water for about 15 seconds before taking a sip as a way of clearing a portion of the existing bacteria.
2. Classrooms
That's right. Those things you're stuck in all day. University of Arizona researchers found that classroom desks have 20 times the amount of bacteria as you would find on an ordinary workplace desk; 7 times that of a doctor's office. "Desks are really bacteria cafeterias," says Charles Gerba, microbiologist. A classroom desk has the capacity to support 10 million microorganisms at any given time. What's more, the desk you're at can keep a cold or flu bug viable for 72 hours, long enough to transfer them to several people. Anti-bacterial wipes can offer much appreciated peace of mind; they do kill 99% of surface germs.
3. Restroom Doors
Think about it. Every single person going in or out of the bathroom has to touch the same place. As said by the American Society of Microbiologists, approximately 68% of people actually wash their hands before leaving the restroom. So, that means that nearly one third of people have the ability to transfer the urine and fecal matter from several people to the restroom door, giving everyone the opportunity to share in the excitement. Lovely. Rule of thumb: say your ABCs while you wash your hands as a good 20 seconds will cleanse thoroughly.
4. Stair Handrails
It's no secret that CSUSM has a rather hefty number of stairs on campus, which provides an unusually high prospect for germs to be exposed to a number of students. Microbes open to the elements are able to survive for about two hours on the metal, non-porous painted stair rails. As frightening as it is, researchers have found everything from streptococcus, staphylococcus, salmonella and shigella (the culprits behind dysentery), and even blood harboring hepatitis A. When it comes to a surface as common as stair railing, all I can say is this: just don't touch.
5. Vending Machines
Essentially, outdoor things with buttons on them are ghastly. If you buy your parking permits by the day, that keypad you touch can have 3,295 bacteria per square inch. Maybe you've decided to bypass the drinking fountain for bottled water. A vast improvement, yes, but the array of germs on the outside of the machine could transfer from the button, to your hand, to the bottle top, right on into your mouth. Not only that, but paper money is one of the dirtiest things you can handle. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers come in quite handy in these situations, but be careful as overuse can cause your immune system to weaken.
As simple as it may seem, proper hand washing technique is truly your best defense against infection. If the faucet isn't automatic, use a paper towel to turn it on. The soap you use doesn't need to be antibacterial, but you must lather well, being sure not to ignore your wrists or forget about your fingernails. After about 20 seconds rinse thoroughly, and choose a paper towel over an air dryer, as it can blow bacteria all over your freshly washed hands. Don't rely on the alcohol-based hand sanitizers either; there's no substitute for soap and water.
Be the first to comment on this story