Bacteria in Our Environment

All day long our hands are touching different objects. These objects are usually covered by
microscopic bacteria. The bacteria contaminate our hands and enter our body when we touch our
nose or mouth. Many of the microbes are harmless, but some are dangerous. Our immune system
is often able to destroy the harmful bacteria. Sometimes, however, the immune system is
overwhelmed by the microbial invaders and we become ill.
Since it's hard to avoid potentially harmful microbes in the environment, it's important that we
wash our hands regularly. This is especially true when performing an activity that has a high
chance of bacterial transfer - such as using a washroom - or after touching an object that's likely
to have dangerous microorganisms on its surface.
Fecal bacteria can be transferred from one person to another by unhygienic washroom
procedures. Bacteria can also be transferred from a person's rectum to another part of their body
by lack of hygiene. To many people, washing their hands after using a washroom is an automatic
activity that they would never consider omitting. Research has shown that a surprising number of
people don't wash their hands after using a toilet, however.
In a UK research project, electronic recording devices in gas station washrooms provided
interesting - and scary - data. Although 99% of the people interviewed said that they had washed
their hands after using the washrooms, the recording devices showed that only 64% of the
women and 32% of the men had actually turned on the faucet to wash their hands.
Fairly similar results were discovered at three Minnesota state fairs. Observers recorded hand
washing in male and female washrooms. The percentage of hand washers at the three fairs were
64%, 65% and 75% for females and 30%, 39% and 51% for males.
Some researchers acknowledge that they need to do more specific research to study hand
washing percentages after urination compared to those after defecation. Some also want to
determine if the assumption that hand washing after urination is less important for males than for
females is actually valid.
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine tested whether hand
washing with plain water or with soap and water could destroy bacteria that came from feces.
Volunteers touched door handles and railings in public places. Their hands were then tested for
the presence of bacteria. This procedure was followed multiple times with each of the twenty
volunteers.
44% of the samples showed the presence of Enterococcus and Enterobacter, two microbes that
are often found in feces and can cause diarrhea. Washing the hands with water alone reduced the

percentage of samples with the two kinds of bacteria to 23%. Washing the hands with water and
plain soap reduced the samples with bacteria to 8%.