Risk of Bacterial Contamination on Frequently Touched Surfaces in Public Spaces

Public spaces we pass through every day - from shopping centers and hospitals to public transport - are places with high human traffic. This naturally increases the risk of bacteria occurring on frequently touched surfaces. Studies show that the level of bacterial contamination can be surprisingly high even in places we wouldn’t normally consider risky. This article focuses on where bacteria appear in public spaces, which surfaces are moct contaminated, and how these risks can be effectively reduced.

One Czech analysis of microbial contamination in public transportion from 2018 indicates a higher occurrence of microbes in areas frequently touched by passengers, such as handrails, poles, or seats. The analysis reports a 40% prevalence of bacteria, primarily strains of Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Enterococcus.(1)

Another world’s analysis from 2019 focused on the presence of microorganisms on door handles from various types of rooms, including offices, restrooms and laboratories. The results of study revealed a 75% positive occurrence of various bacterial pathogens, primarily strains of Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Pseudomonas.(2)

A study conducted by the University of Arizona found that up to 72% of tested shopping carts were contaminated with coliform bacteria, and in 51% of cases, the presence of Escherichia coli was detected, indicating a potential for fecal contamination. Similar results were observed in a study carried out in Canada, where pathogenic bacteria were found on up to 61% of shopping carts.(3)

A study focused on the presence of microorganisms on ATMs confirmed bacterial contamination in all samples collected from eight different banks. The results showed that samples taken in the afternoon were significantly more contaminated compared to those collected in the morning. The identified bacterial strains in the samples included primarily Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Escherichia coli. (4)

A British study conducted in 2018 confirmed the presence of Enterococcus and Listeria strains on all tested self-service touchscreens in McDonald’s fast-food restaurants. The study concluded that touchscreens in public spaces can serve as a significant source of pathogen transmission. Another study from 2016, conducted on touchscreen computers in hospitals and retail stores, identified the presence of Clostridium, Staphylococcus and Escherichia Coli strains.(5,6)

In response to the growing risk of pathogen transmission through frequently touched surfaces, it is worth considering the use of antimicrobial products such as LOTUS Foil. This is a self-cleaning antimicrobial film that eliminates microorganisms on its surfaces through the action of an active agent - singlet oxygen. LOTUS Foil provides continuous 99% antiviral efficacy /tested on representatives of enveloped viruses) and 99.9% antibacterial efficacy (tested on representatives of both gram-negative and gram-positive strains). In the future, this product could be a standard solution for touchscreens in retail, healthcare, public transport, and other environments where touch-based interaction is common.

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Sources: 

(1) Výskyt sezónních patogenních mikrobů v dopravních prostředcích MHD; Veronika Šlemendová; České vysoké učení technické 2018
(2) Evaluation of public health hazards of door handles; Dominic Tiku; University of Calabar 2019
(3) Bacterial Contamination of Shopping Carts and Approaches to Control; Charles P. Garba, Sheri Maxwell; University of Arizona 2012
(4) Bacteriological assessment of some ATMs keypads, University of Ilorin 2014

(5) Bacterial contamination of computer touch screens; Charles P. Garba PhD, Adam L. Wuollet MD, Peter Raisanen BS; American Journal of Infection Control 2016

(6) Scientists Just Found Something Absolutely Shocking on These McDonald's Self-Order Touchscreens

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