Germ busters
Desks, keyboards, computer mouses harbor most bacteria in homes
Tara Bannow
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Money/Health
"The kitchen area has a lot more (bacteria) than the desk area because you prepare foods there," Gerba said. "It's hard to beat the kitchen. It's where you cook raw meat products, plus bacteria grows in sponges and places where it's wet and moist."
Does this mean college students living in kitchen-less dorms are off the hook? Not exactly.
"Dorms are like a big petri dish of bacteria," McCarthy said. "If you have several people sick who don't cover their mouths when they cough, viruses can spread fast."
Gerba said people can protect themselves simply by practicing good hygiene.
"The key thing is to use a bacteria wipe on a desk or phone," he said. "People should wash hands on a regular basis, because most bacteria is spread by touching the nose, mouth and eyes."
McCarthy gave similar advice.
"What harms people the most is failure to do simple things that our mothers and fathers taught us," he said. "Washing our hands, covering our mouths after sneezing, keeping our work environments clean, using disinfectant and sanitizing products. By doing these simple things, we can prevent ourselves from diseases that are transmitted from person to person."
Moran said she thinks about bacteria a lot, adding she has a small bottle of hand sanitizer on her key-chain, which goes with her everywhere.
"I also don't use doorknobs," she said. "If it's a door I can push open, I nudge it with my elbow. I don't touch railings either."
McCarthy also emphasized the importance of covering the mouth when coughing.
"If you go anywhere in a health care facility, you'll see those 'cover the cough' posters," he said. "Many people don't realize that when they cough or sneeze, (the bacteria) goes out in a cone shape, about five or six feet wide."
McCarthy suggested that students protect themselves by taking advantage of the immunizations available on campus.
UW-Eau Claire's Student Health Service, located in Crest Wellness Center, offers immunization to students by appointment.
Does this mean college students living in kitchen-less dorms are off the hook? Not exactly.
"Dorms are like a big petri dish of bacteria," McCarthy said. "If you have several people sick who don't cover their mouths when they cough, viruses can spread fast."
Gerba said people can protect themselves simply by practicing good hygiene.
"The key thing is to use a bacteria wipe on a desk or phone," he said. "People should wash hands on a regular basis, because most bacteria is spread by touching the nose, mouth and eyes."
McCarthy gave similar advice.
"What harms people the most is failure to do simple things that our mothers and fathers taught us," he said. "Washing our hands, covering our mouths after sneezing, keeping our work environments clean, using disinfectant and sanitizing products. By doing these simple things, we can prevent ourselves from diseases that are transmitted from person to person."
Moran said she thinks about bacteria a lot, adding she has a small bottle of hand sanitizer on her key-chain, which goes with her everywhere.
"I also don't use doorknobs," she said. "If it's a door I can push open, I nudge it with my elbow. I don't touch railings either."
McCarthy also emphasized the importance of covering the mouth when coughing.
"If you go anywhere in a health care facility, you'll see those 'cover the cough' posters," he said. "Many people don't realize that when they cough or sneeze, (the bacteria) goes out in a cone shape, about five or six feet wide."
McCarthy suggested that students protect themselves by taking advantage of the immunizations available on campus.
UW-Eau Claire's Student Health Service, located in Crest Wellness Center, offers immunization to students by appointment.
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