'SCRUB CLUB' Experts find unexpected germ sites

Think a toilet seat harbors germs? School cafeteria trays have 10 times more.
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Every parent knows that elementary schools are notorious germ factories.
But professional microbiologists associated with the nonprofit "Scrub Club" did an experiment with a typical elementary school this month and found fewer germs in places where they might be expected -- restrooms, desk tops and on door handles -- and far more where even the professionals didn't expect to find them.
Cafeteria trays, for example, had 10 times the germs found on toilet seats, and higher levels were also found on headphones and computer keyboards.
Worst spot
But the highest amount of bacteria was found on the spigot of a drinking fountain -- 2.7 million bacterial cells per square inch.
"This was just a snapshot in time of an average classroom at the beginning of the year," said Jerry Bowman, director of communications for NSF International, a Michigan-based nonprofit that runs the Scrub Club, a partner with the government's Fight BAC program to reducing bacterial infections in children age 3 through 8.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates there are 164 million school days lost to illness each year, which could be reduced with proper hand washing.
Bowman said the survey, conducted by a professional microbiologist using standard industry procedures, showed school janitors did a good job of cleaning toilet areas, sinks and desks.
But they less commonly cleaned areas like computer keyboards and cafeteria trays because they are not commonly believed to harbor bacteria.