Last month we explained the important factors to consider when looking for the right hygiene service for your business .
This month we’re going to switch perspective and look at common types of bacteria in the office. According to a USA study there are 500 species of bacteria in offices. No need to panic though because we offer some effective solutions to this problem.
5 types of office bacteria:
There are hundreds of bacteria species present in offices, not all of which are harmful; below we’ve taken a look at some common types:
E- Coli
They live in the lower intestine of warm blooded organisms and are spread and expelled through faecal matter. The main cause of these bacteria is bad hygiene. They can be found on keyboards, bathroom sink taps or doorknobs, and the effects are often abdominal cramps or food poisoning.
Staphylococcus aureus
These bacteria are usually found on the skin and in the respiratory tract. Therefore, they can easily spread onto equipment/surfaces which come into contact with skin, such as keyboards. It’s helpful to note that these bacteria were recently found to resist certain anti- biotic treatment.
Norovirus
These bacteria are infectious and can often be found in closed environments such as offices; symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea. They can be transferred by food and water contaminated with faecal matter.
Helicobacter pylori
These bacteria are usually spread by failure to wash hands. They are found in the human stomach and can often be found on office surfaces. Common effects are: acute gastritis and stomach ache.
Actinomycetales
These are a group of bacteria which are commonly found in soil and water, and can easily be transferred between surfaces. They are known to cause Pneumonia and target persons with weak immune systems.
The startling numbers
In an article published by The Huffington Post UK, a team of researchers gathered 25 bacteria swabs from five different offices and found that there are:
- 4 times more bacteria on the office copy machine start button than a pet bowl.
- 34 times more bacteria on a coffee pot handle than a school toilet seat.
- 2.5 times more bacteria on an office entrance door knob handle than the home bathroom door knob handle.
- 4 times more bacteria on a water dispenser handle than a cutting board.
- 3.5 times more bacteria on a conference room door knob handle than a car steering wheel.
Effective solutions for your office bacteria needs
It is clear that offices produce A LOT of bacteria.
At Bidvest Steiner, we have a range of hygiene and pest control solutions to suit your specific office needs.
Frequent use of hand sanitiser decreases the chance of you getting sick. It is known to kill 99.99% of germs. We offer a range of fast drying (no towel required) sanitiser dispensers.
We touch and Interact with many surfaces throughout the day. With a wipe, hands and surfaces are sanitised within seconds. We offer a range of compact and convenient wipe dispensers.
To prevent getting sick, your best bet is to simply wash your hands. It only takes 15 seconds to wash your hands properly. You can visit our website to take a look at our range of hand washing solutions.
Contact us today for more information around our complete range of solutions.