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Mops and Buckets Spread Germs
"Bucket solutions become contaminated almost immediately during cleaning, and continued use of the solution transfers increasing numbers of microorganisms to each subsequent surface to be cleaned.
"...Another source of contamination in the cleaning process is the cleaning cloth or mop head, especially if left soaking in dirty cleaning solutions."
CDC
By Journal of Environmental Health
Abstract
After reports of increased severity of bacterial infections from community institutions, a broad spectrum of 70 surfaces was sampled for potential bacterial pathogens in the morning and afternoon of one day per week over three consecutive weeks in a large U.S. university. Surfaces included public telephone mouthpieces, water fountain drains, student computer keyboards and desks, and buttons on elevators, vending machines, and photocopiers. A total of 420 samples was obtained. Bacterial counts were high on telephone mouthpieces, up to 168.8 colony-forming units (CFUs) cm2 of surface area. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated from 60% of fountain drains. Ninety percent of the keyboards showed positive bacterial cultures in the afternoon sampling. Staphylococcus aureus was identified on keyboards, telephone mouthpieces, and an elevator button. No S. aureus were methicillin-resistant. The swab sampling method reduced bacterial counts to less than or equal to 2.0 CFU cm2 on keyboards and telephone mouthpieces. Disinfectants for possible use in cleaning of telephones, water fountain drains, and keyboards are discussed.
Introduction
Recent reports of life-threatening community-acquired bacterial infections emphasize the need to identify community surfaces that are rich in bacteria and have the potential to harbor pathogens (Libanore, Bicocchi, Pantaleoni, & Ghinelli, 2004; Romano, Lu, & Holtom, 2006). This study is the first to examine a broad array of surfaces in a large urban university in the midwestern United States. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. The university location was chosen for its substantial population of primarily late-teens and early adults, within which athletes, immuno-compromised individuals, and drug users can be found. In this age group, personal hygiene habits are not always optimal, and this can lead to the spread of infectious diseases infectious diseases: see communicable diseases. (Drankiewiez & Dundes, 2003; Scott & Vanick, 2007).
Environmental surfaces in communities may receive substantial traffic. Such surfaces may support bacterial growth and may or may not receive adequate cleaning. Determining the number of bacteria and screening for the presence of potential pathogens on surfaces are initial steps in maintaining the health of individuals contacting those surfaces.
Discussion and Conclusion
The data from this study show that in this large university community, the telephone mouthpieces showed the highest individual bacterial counts and had the highest numbers of bacteria compared to all other sampled surfaces except the drains…
Authors
Brooke, Joanna S.; Annand, John W.; Hammer, Angela; Dembkowski, Karen; Shulman, Stanford T.
Reprinted by permission from the Jan/Feb 2009 Issue of the Journal of Environmental Health, the official publication of the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA).
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Comment by Allen Rathey on February 23rd, 2010 at 8:11pm
Greg,
Unfortunately, we do not have the license or rights to the full document.
To view the entire PDF, please visit NEHA.org and request the full report:
http://www.neha.org/JEH/
Comment by Greg Whiteley on February 23rd, 2010 at 8:00pm
This appears to be an interesting article but is it possible to see the entire pdf file? There are undoubtedly environmental microbiological primers for development of bacterial resistance, and the hospital environment is a particularly rich source of the correct conditions. The general community may be less so. Schools and "dorms" may also provide some good growth opportunities, plus the reality of closer contact where transmission is more likely. It would be interesting to read the background information if possible.
Comment by Allen Rathey on February 23rd, 2010 at 6:03pm
Very astute comments, and insightful wit! Thank you for sharing.
Comment by Lynn Krafft on February 23rd, 2010 at 2:34pm
Solution:
1) The custodial staff must be present to disinfect all the above frequently handled surfaces at all locations after each user has finished touching that surface. Or,
2) The custodial staff is assigned to wash down, dip, or otherwise disinfect the hands and lips of each student just before he or she uses the transmission devices of concern. Or, if that is, by chance, not financially feasible,
3) Reverse the trend wherein "personal hygiene habits are not always optimal". Perhaps the fact that these are universities, centers of advanced learning, could play a part. It may be possible to restore the memory of those folks whose mothers told them to wash their hands after going potty and not to put foreign objects into their nose, mouth, and ears. Adhesive tabs for labeling fingers as foreign objects would jog the memory, and could become a major source of income at the campus bookstore.
A course detailing the elements of disease transmission could become part of that required of all freshmen, so that when coming out of the rest room, they truly are such. Call it something easy to remember, maybe Common Sense 101.
Lynn E. Krafft, ICAN/ATEX Editor & CIRI member