Public washrooms are flush with germs, but there are simple ways to reduce the risk of infections according to new research from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and the Australian National University (ANU).
In a statement, UniSA said the Research Paper, Transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in public washrooms: a systematic review, highlighted the dangers of open toilet lids, uncovered rubbish bins and defective plumbing drains in spreading infections in public washrooms.
“A global review of the risks of bacterial and viral transmission in public bathrooms has found that bioaerosols can potentially be transmitted throughout a multi-storey building by defective plumbing and that leaving toilet lids open after flushing can disperse contaminated droplets beyond a metre,” it said.
“Uncovered rubbish bins in public bathrooms are also flagged as a risk, especially if located under, or close to, electric hand dryers.”
Environmental Scientist at UniSA and co-author of the Research Paper, Erica Donner said UniSA and ANU researchers assessed 38 different studies from 13 countries that investigated the risk of infectious disease transmission in public washrooms to produce the findings.
Professor Donner said aside from considering the risks of COVID-19 transmission in bathrooms, the review also analysed other infectious disease risks from public toilets in restaurants, workplaces, commercial premises and universities.
“The results showed widespread evidence of contaminated surfaces as a cause of faecal-oral transmission, but no documented instances of airborne-related infectious disease transmission,” she said.
“Some people have been worried about using public washrooms during the pandemic, but if you minimise your time in the bathroom, wash and dry your hands properly, and don’t use your mobile phone, eat or drink, then the risks should be low, especially if the bathroom is well maintained.
“While there is limited evidence of COVID-19 transmission via public washrooms, they are rife with bacteria, especially those that are used frequently and not cleaned properly,” Professor Donner said.
The 22-page Paper, published in Science of the Total Environment, can be accessed at this PS News link.
