Freak or Normal?
Apr 15th, 2004, 09:48 AM
#142
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Re: pathogens surviving on toilet seats, this abstract from the Journal of Applied Microbilogy will fan the flames of Annabel's paranoia:
Survival of Salmonella in bathrooms and toilets in domestic homes following salmonellosis.
Barker J, Bloomfield SF.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
The survival and environmental spread of Salmonella bacteria from domestic toilets was examined in homes, where a family member had recently suffered an attack of salmonellosis. In four out of six households tested, Salmonella bacteria persisted in the biofilm material found under the recess of the toilet bowl rim which was difficult to remove with household toilet cleaners. In two homes Salmonella bacteria became incorporated into the scaly biofilm adhering to the toilet bowl surface below the water line. Salmonella enteritidis persisted in one toilet for 4 weeks after the diarrhoea had stopped, despite the use of cleaning fluids. Salmonellas were not isolated from normally dry areas such as, the toilet seat, the flush handle and door handle. Flushing the toilet resulted in contamination of the toilet seat and the toilet seat lid. In one out of three seedings, Salmonella bacteria were also isolated from an air sample taken immediately after flushing, indicating that airborne spread of the organism could contaminate surfaces in the bathroom. In the seeded toilet Salmonella bacteria were isolated from the biofilm in the toilet bowl below the waterline for up to 50 days after seeding, and also on one occasion from the bowl water. The results suggest that during diarrhoeal illness, there is considerable risk of spread of Salmonella infection to other family members via the environment, including contaminated hands and surfaces in the toilet area.
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From the same journal, kitchens are dirtier than toilets:
Reduction of faecal coliform, coliform and heterotrophic plate count bacteria in the household kitchen and bathroom by disinfection with hypochlorite cleaners.
Rusin P, Orosz-Coughlin P, Gerba C.
University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
Fourteen sites evenly divided between the household kitchen and bathroom were monitored on a weekly basis for numbers of faecal coliforms, total coliforms and heterotrophic plate count bacteria. The first 10 weeks comprised the control period, hypochlorite cleaning products were introduced into the household during the second 10 weeks, and a strict cleaning regimen using hypochlorite products was implemented during the last 10 weeks. The kitchen was more heavily contaminated than the bathroom, with the toilet seat being the least contaminated site. The highest concentrations of all three classes of bacteria were found on sites that were moist environments and/or were frequently touched; these included the sponge/dishcloth, the kitchen sink drain area, the bath sink drain area, and the kitchen faucet handle(s). The implementation of a cleaning regimen with common household hypochlorite products resulted in the significant reduction of all three classes of bacteria at these four sites and other household sites.
Survival of Salmonella in bathrooms and toilets in domestic homes following salmonellosis.
Barker J, Bloomfield SF.
Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
The survival and environmental spread of Salmonella bacteria from domestic toilets was examined in homes, where a family member had recently suffered an attack of salmonellosis. In four out of six households tested, Salmonella bacteria persisted in the biofilm material found under the recess of the toilet bowl rim which was difficult to remove with household toilet cleaners. In two homes Salmonella bacteria became incorporated into the scaly biofilm adhering to the toilet bowl surface below the water line. Salmonella enteritidis persisted in one toilet for 4 weeks after the diarrhoea had stopped, despite the use of cleaning fluids. Salmonellas were not isolated from normally dry areas such as, the toilet seat, the flush handle and door handle. Flushing the toilet resulted in contamination of the toilet seat and the toilet seat lid. In one out of three seedings, Salmonella bacteria were also isolated from an air sample taken immediately after flushing, indicating that airborne spread of the organism could contaminate surfaces in the bathroom. In the seeded toilet Salmonella bacteria were isolated from the biofilm in the toilet bowl below the waterline for up to 50 days after seeding, and also on one occasion from the bowl water. The results suggest that during diarrhoeal illness, there is considerable risk of spread of Salmonella infection to other family members via the environment, including contaminated hands and surfaces in the toilet area.
**************************************
From the same journal, kitchens are dirtier than toilets:
Reduction of faecal coliform, coliform and heterotrophic plate count bacteria in the household kitchen and bathroom by disinfection with hypochlorite cleaners.
Rusin P, Orosz-Coughlin P, Gerba C.
University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, USA.
Fourteen sites evenly divided between the household kitchen and bathroom were monitored on a weekly basis for numbers of faecal coliforms, total coliforms and heterotrophic plate count bacteria. The first 10 weeks comprised the control period, hypochlorite cleaning products were introduced into the household during the second 10 weeks, and a strict cleaning regimen using hypochlorite products was implemented during the last 10 weeks. The kitchen was more heavily contaminated than the bathroom, with the toilet seat being the least contaminated site. The highest concentrations of all three classes of bacteria were found on sites that were moist environments and/or were frequently touched; these included the sponge/dishcloth, the kitchen sink drain area, the bath sink drain area, and the kitchen faucet handle(s). The implementation of a cleaning regimen with common household hypochlorite products resulted in the significant reduction of all three classes of bacteria at these four sites and other household sites.
Apr 15th, 2004, 09:57 AM
#143
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OK, TedTurner, but if the skin on your buttocks comes in contact with salmonella (because you didn't put TP on the seat), how do you get ill from it, assuming you wash your hands after you finish your business?
Apr 15th, 2004, 10:12 AM
#144
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1) I'm not suggesting that sitting on toilet seats is a major cause of infections in the USA. I was merely pointing out that the notion that bugs (including STD's) can't survive on toilet seats is not entirely true (from a scientific standpoint).
2) How would the organism get from one's rear to one's hand to one's mouth? Hmmm. Think of Al Bundy or Oscar Madison or...well...no need to be graphic.
2) How would the organism get from one's rear to one's hand to one's mouth? Hmmm. Think of Al Bundy or Oscar Madison or...well...no need to be graphic.
Apr 15th, 2004, 10:42 AM
#146
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What a bunch of hypochondriacs. Have you people seen " As Good As It Gets". The guy is a freak as are all you who worry about this. AAFrequentflyer is the only voice of reason on this thread. Germ freaks cause more harm by constant cleaning since it destroys normal bacterial flora that helps prevent the spread of disease and infection.
Apr 15th, 2004, 10:54 AM
#147
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Has anyone looked at the Fodors Homepage lately?? Read the Tipster article about hotel bedspreads.
For those of you that are ignorant on the spreading of germs, I think instead of flaming me, you should educate yourself. Everything I posted is true, so if you sit on a public toilet seat, or not flush it before using among the other things posted...well that is your business.
Regarding airplane toiltes..(because I was flamed on that too)
I would like to know how you DO sit on a toilet seat? If you never got lessons.. first you flush it then you lift up the seat and you squat over the bowl and pee. It's not a very difficult thing to do. I do not leave the seat down because I know there are many of people who do sit, this way you are not sitting on my pee. Then you flush. Not a hard thing to do!
For those of you that are ignorant on the spreading of germs, I think instead of flaming me, you should educate yourself. Everything I posted is true, so if you sit on a public toilet seat, or not flush it before using among the other things posted...well that is your business.
Regarding airplane toiltes..(because I was flamed on that too)
I would like to know how you DO sit on a toilet seat? If you never got lessons.. first you flush it then you lift up the seat and you squat over the bowl and pee. It's not a very difficult thing to do. I do not leave the seat down because I know there are many of people who do sit, this way you are not sitting on my pee. Then you flush. Not a hard thing to do!
Apr 15th, 2004, 11:49 AM
#150
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I much prefer the posts that discuss restaurants, great food, shopping, culture, and wonderful things to see and visit. I now need a vomit bag after reading this. I am out-a-here! Too much information!
