WebMD Health News is reporting this study, which was presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Researchers collected swab samples from places people normally touch in public bathrooms, such as restroom door handles, toilet stall handles, toilet flush handles, sink handles, towel dispenser handles, and blow dryer handles, at travel and rest stops along major interstate highways in the Southwest.
Their results showed the presence of many different bacteria, such as staph bacteria and E. coli. MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a difficult to treat type of staph that can cause potentially life-threatening infection, was found in 10 of the 47 samples taken.
My Take?
This study emphasizes the importance of washing your hands after using restrooms AND using a towel or other type of device to cover your hands when exiting the restroom.