View the news release: Elevator buttons a hidden source of bacteria, study finds
Which surface has more bacteria: elevator buttons or toilets?
Elevator buttons and toilet surfaces of 3 large urban hospitals were swabbed over the course of a year.
Number of surfaces swabbed: 120 elevator buttons and 96 toilet surfaces.
Samples were tested for several types of bacteria, including Staphylococcus and Coliform bacteria.
Of the 120 swabs taken from elevator buttons, 61% had bacterial colonization.
Meanwhile, only 43% of toilet surface swabs had bacterial colonization, much less than the elevator buttons.
The best defence? Clean your hands!
– Use something other than your hands, like your elbow or the end of a pen, to activate elevator buttons
– Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
– In the winter, keep gloves on when making contact with commonly touched surfaces
– Practice good hand hygiene- clean your hands before and after touching commonly touched surfaces, especially when sick