Germs in Public Bathrooms: Should You Be Worried?
Do public bathrooms make you squirm? The thought of all the germs that could be lurking in public bathrooms is enough to make some people want to hold it until they get home. For many people, using public bathrooms involves a complicated navigation where you flush with your foot, squat over the toilet seat, and generally do your best to make sure your skin doesn’t touch anything. But is that really necessary?
The truth is that there are plenty of germs in public bathrooms. Streptococcus, the bacteria that causes strep throat; staphylococcus, which can cause nasty infections; E. coli, which is found in the lower intestines of most animals; and even the common cold virus are often found in public bathrooms. There have even been instances of pathogens that cause some sexually transmitted diseases being found in public restrooms, although actually contracting an STD from using a public restroom is extremely unlikely.
However, there are a few simple precautions you can take to make sure you don’t catch anything while you’re using the restroom. Here are a few things you should know about bathroom germs.
The toilet seat isn’t as scary as you think. There are definitely germs on public restroom seats. But going to the lengths most people go to to avoid sitting on the toilet seat is probably unnecessary. Most bacteria can survive for only a very short time on the surface of the toilet seat. For you to get an infection from bacteria lurking there, you’d have to enter the stall very quickly after the germs had been deposited and contract the germs through your urethra or genitals—or pick them up through a cut or sore on your thighs or buttocks. It’s not completely impossible, but it isn’t very likely, either.
The most germ-infested surfaces in public restrooms include the floor, the faucets, and the towel dispensers. The sink itself is a major germ incubator, as it often has standing water in drops and puddles on the surface—these can provide safe places for germs to grow.
If you’re concerned about germs, flush the toilet with your foot—it couldn’t hurt. Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after washing your hands and to open the door to leave the bathroom.
Common cold germs aren’t much of a threat. Most germs and viruses die quickly in contact with air, so you shouldn’t worry too much about contracting a cold from touching the spigots on a public bathroom sink.
The biggest risk isn’t what you think. You’re at little risk of picking up nasty germs when you touch the surfaces in a public restroom. However, most people don’t realize that the germs in their own feces get sprayed into the air in a fine mist when the toilet is flushed. It’s best to leave the bathroom stall as soon as you flush so that you’re not standing in that mist of germs. The biggest dispersal of germs occurs after the water has left the bowl, not at the start of the flush.
Many people don’t wash their hands. And of those who do, most don’t do it properly. It will take more than waving your hands under hot water for a second or two to remove germs and viruses. To do it right, rub soapy water into your hands and fingers for no less than twenty seconds, and don’t forget to clean under your fingernails. Rubbing your hands together loosens pathogens on the hands. Rinse thoroughly, and then repeat.
It’s surprising to learn that many people don’t wash their hands. A survey conducted by ASM’s Clean Hands Campaign found that although most people—men and women alike—tell researchers they do wash their hands in public bathrooms, only about 67% actually do according to observations.
Public bathrooms are full of germs. But so are most public places. The truth is that your risk of exposure to pathogens is less than you probably think, unless you have a compromised immune system. Use common sense to avoid too much exposure, and always wash your hands. Follow these tips, and you should be able to minimize your exposure to bacteria and viruses in public restrooms.