Is Your Desk A Bacteria Cafeteria?

I drive everyone crazy, but I don't care.

That's how a lively friend of mine named Emily describes her co-workers response to her pet mission: to kill as many germs as possible in her workplace.

Emily restores artwork for a busy art gallery, and her desk happens to be located in a heavy traffic spot in her office. The problem: When she's away from her desk (which she often is), no one thinks twice about using her phone or computer. So when a cold or flu bug starts doing the rounds from co-worker to co-worker, Emily regularly wipes down her desktop, phone and computer keyboard with disinfectant wipes, and often gives the same treatment to some of her co-workers desks as well.

And whether they know it or not, she's doing them a favour. Emily recently suggested that I should do an e-alert about germs in the workplace. I told her I'd look into it, thinking there might be some research out there - and there certainly was. What I found reveals a sobering reality: Unless you're as diligent as Emily is, your desk is probably teeming with bacteria.

25,000 little friends

In 2002, US researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) conducted a study of bacteria levels in four office spaces in New York City, Tampa, Tucson and San Francisco. The offices were specifically chosen to prevent outside influences on bacteria levels, so each office had limited contact from street traffic (such as deliveries), and disinfectants were not heavily used by cleaning staff.

Researchers took multiple bacteria samples from 12 different surfaces (phone receivers, lift buttons, photocopiers, etc.) in cubicles, private offices, kitchens and restrooms. About 7,000 samples were collected from all four of the offices combined.

After their data was analysed, the UA team came up with an average number of germs per square inch (GPSI) for each of the surfaces tested. The phones they tested had an average of more than 25,000 GPSI.

And heres the unnerving statistic that puts the phone receiver GPSI in perspective: Toilet seats averaged less than 50 GPSI. (Granted, toilets are more likely to get disinfected daily than telephones are. But still...)

Coming in second place behind phone receivers were desktops: more than 20,000 GPSI. Computer keyboards were relatively pristine with a little under 3,300 GPSI. Other surfaces that scored high GPSIs: water fountain handles and microwave door handles. Your computer mouse is also a popular germ hangout with more than 1,600 GPSI.

Germ glue

In a recent interview with CNN, microbiologist and lead researcher for the UA trial, Dr. Charles Gerba, noted that people usually don't clean their desktops until they start sticking to them. He put it this way: If you eat at your desk, any small bits of food left behind turn into a bacteria cafeteria.

So what can you do to avoid those teeming masses of germs?

For starters, obviously, dont eat at your desk. The primary recommendation that came from the study called for a daily wiping down of telephones, computer keyboards, desktops, etc., with disinfectant wipes that contain chlorine bleach. This type of wipe can kill bacteria and viruses, whereas vinegar and ammonia are both ineffective.

And this would be a good time to mention that the UA study was sponsored by a well-known bleach maker that produces - yes - disinfectant wipes. According to the study (which also examined germ counts after using wipes), bacteria levels can be reduced by nearly 100 percent if surfaces are wiped down daily.

But cleaning surfaces is only part of the battle. Just as important is hand washing. And while you're at it, go ahead and wash your hands frequently with plenty of soap and hot water - a casual rinsing isn't enough. According to Roslyn Stone of the US Centres for Disease Control, thorough and frequent hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the flu.

And finally, to really bring down your office GPSI counts, be like Emily: Drive your co-workers crazy. They may not thank you for it, but they certainly should.

...and another thing

Recent research suggests that people suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome could be cured by taking an iron supplement.

Dr Suresh Kotagal led the study along with other US researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The study, reported in the journal Annals of Neurology, looked at 32 children with the syndrome and found that 83 per cent had iron levels which were below normal.

Dr K. Ray Chaudhuri, a consultant neurologist at Kings College Hospital here in London, and chairman of the support group Restless Legs Syndrome UK, said that taking iron supplements three times a day can significantly improve the symptoms in some patients. Please make sure you consult your GP for a proper diagnosis to determine whether you have an iron deficiency before taking any pills.