Germ Hot Spots in Restrooms

Germ Hot Spots in Restrooms

Restrooms are teeming with germ hot spots that can make us and everyone around us sick, but they're not always in the places that we suspect.

Germ Hot Spots in Restrooms

Identifying Germ Hot Spots in Restrooms

A series of recent studies have destroyed the (justifiable) expectations of public restroom occupants regarding the safe use of the facility-- specifically, the areas surrounding hand sanitation and hygiene, with one study identifying;

[...] genetic traces of more than 77,000 distinct types of bacteria and viruses in these spaces.

Types Of Bacteria Found In Restrooms

While, understandably, a person could expect the floors and toilets to be less than perfect, it turns out that the sink faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers are the real issue--with many testing positive for antibacterial resistant strains of dangerous bacteria.

Fifty-two bacterial species were identified from the 55 investigated washrooms.

Over 97% of the pathogenic Staphylococcus spp. tested were resistant to at least one first-line antimicrobial therapeutic agent, including penicillin, cefoxitin, erythromycin, co-trimoxazole, clindamycin and gentamicin, and 22.6% demonstrated co-resistance to at least three antimicrobial agents, with co-resistance to penicillin, erythromycin and clindamycin being the most common.

The public washroom - friend or foe? An observational study of washroom cleanliness combined with microbiological investigation of hand hygiene facilities

Fortunately, there are several methods that can be employed by facilities maintenance personnel, custodians, and occupants to ensure that everyone may use the facility safely and without concern for their personal health.

 

Addressing Restroom Hot Spots

Due to issues with high-traffic and constant recontamination, restrooms typically rank at, or near, the top challenges for custodial and facilities maintenance managers.

These challenges are due to the fact that, while regular cleaning and maintenance are expected to maintain the health and usability of the facility, it is just not possible to keep a facility 100 percent germ free, as studies have shown that, even absent occupancy and use, the surfaces will quickly recontaminate after disinfectant treatment.

A chief contributing issue for restroom cleaning personnel and occupants is the design of the restroom facilities--the more contact they require, the more likely the facility is to acquire and spread germs.

In other words, the key factor in improving restroom health and safety isn't necessarily to increase the frequency of cleaning, or a 'magical' cleaning solution; it is eliminating occupant contact with commonly touched surfaces by employing touchless fixtures, such as:

  • Occupancy sensors for light switches to automatically turn them on and off.
  • Self-flushing toilets and urinals.
  • Touchless sensors for sinks, soap, and paper towel dispensers.
  • Well maintained drainage holes on the floors to prevent standing water, and;
  • Foot openers on automatically closing doors.

 

Tips for Occupant Safety

Most people would be surprised to discover that the toilet seat is not the most contaminated surface you're likely to come into contact within a public restroom--it's more likely the sink.

It is a common misconception among many building occupants that the toilet seat would be the most contaminated surface in a restroom.

But according to the findings, the toilet only measured 150 colony forming units (CFUs), whereas sinks measured 50,000 CFUs.

Most Contaminated Restroom Surfaces

To keep yourself safe and healthy, we recommend the following:

  • Bring hand sanitizer with you and use it once you exit the facility--there is a varying degree of probability that your hands have more germs on them after washing, drying, and exiting a public restroom than prior to entry.
  • Use paper towels to avoid direct contact with restroom fixtures that are not touchless, and;
  • Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, but make sure to dry them completely--wet hands transfer germs more readily than dry ones.

 

References & Resources

 

Takeaway

A high-performance cleaning and disinfection program is mandatory for maintaining the health and safe use of public restroom facilities.

However, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the best maintained restrooms are the best designed restrooms, which translates into touchless fixtures across the whole facility.

Combining the two will ensure a high level of occupant satisfaction with your organization, and consulting with a local provider experienced with implementation, design, and sanitation strategies is the fastest way to onboard your new initiative.

If you would like to learn more about the advantages to outsourcing your school or businesses restroom cleaning and infection control and prevention measures, or the advantages to automated and monitored fixtures and facilities, contact us today for a free quote!

In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253

In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059

In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253


Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley

Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley