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According to researchers, many “zones” are conducive to the growth of bacteria – such as self-service checkouts, escalators and office keyboards. Remember to wash your hands regularly!
Bacteria love wet areas and touch screens. Self-service checkouts, escalator handrails and computer keyboards are no exception to the rule. According to a study supported by the public health system (NHS), these devices are even littered with bacteria present in human urine and excrement.
Analysis of escalators, keyboards, self-service checkouts…
As part of this investigation, the scientists stamped 19 different areas, ranging from self-service checkouts to escalator tracks, not to mention the door handles of public toilets and office keyboards.
After a battery of tests, laboratory analysis showed that the self-service checkouts presented “lone of the highest bacterial loads“, with five different types of bacteria.
- Thus, a sample taken at a self-service checkout showed positive for a type of bacteria (Enterococcus), usually found in feces and frequently causing infections in humans.
- Another test – carried out on an escalator handrail – came back with a bacteria commonly found in the vagina and mouth – ‘Candida albicans’, which cause severe chronic infections.
- Finally, on computer keyboards, the E. coli bacterium, which causes intestinal infections and diarrhea, and another bacterium which causes painful urinary tract infections, have been detected.
The scientists also specify that E. coli was found on almost all the elements observed.
Wash your hands regularly
Faced with these results, the researchers believe that it is necessary to redouble our vigilance against these bacteria (sometimes fatal in vulnerable people) by taking great care to wash your hands regularly.
“We live in a bacterial world – bacteria and microbes are everywhere, and we come into contact with them all day, every day. It is therefore essential to try to minimize their effects in terms of infection prevention and control.“, recalls in this regard Dr. Adam Roberts, expert in microbiology from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and observer of the samples.