We're taught from a young age to wash our hands after using the restroom. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that a significant percentage of diseases can be prevented with proper hand washing. Unfortunately, if restrooms aren't clean, people can contract diseases spread from restroom germs by touching any contaminated surface after washing their hands. Employees who clean the restrooms have the same problem when they have to touch surfaces in the room in order to clean them. The ideal process is to clean the room and remove the germs without ever having to touch the contaminated surfaces.
Examples of Diseases Spread from Restroom Germs
The organisms that live in restrooms feed on human waste. Urine, feces, vomit, and other bodily fluids are all potential food sources for these organisms. Even the act of flushing a toilet causes the liquid inside the bowl to turn into a fine mist, filling the air and coating the surrounding surfaces. Humans can contract a surprising variety of diseases by simply grabbing a restroom door handle or using a paper towel dispenser. Here are a few of the common ones.
- Salmonella: This lasts from 4 to 7 days. Although most people recover from this at home, it may be so severe in some cases that patients must be hospitalized because of dehydration. Salmonella usually shows its first symptoms 12 to 72 hours after contamination.
- E. coli: Some strains of E. coli can cause slight abdominal upset, while others can cause fatal intestinal disease, especially in the very young and those who are immune suppressed. E. coli can difficult to pinpoint, because its symptoms can appear in as little as one day or as many as ten.
- Norovirus: Norovirus is an extremely contagious disease that inflames the stomach and intestines. According to the CDC, over 70,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized from norovirus each year, and around 800 will die from it annually.
The spread of these diseases and many others can be slowed considerably with thorough restroom cleaning procedures. If you eliminate the organisms in a safe way, you'll cut down on the number of diseases spread from restroom germs.
A Better Way
Much like no-touch technology, such as automatic faucets and paper towel holders, has cut down on the spread of disease-causing organisms, no-touch cleaning systems also control the spread of germs by allowing the cleaning staff to avoid contact with the contaminated surfaces. The Kaivac No-Touch cleaning system begins with spraying a cleaning solution over soiled surfaces, including toilets, sinks, walls, and floors. A high-pressure spray blasts all the cleaning residue to the floor where it is vacuumed away, leaving the surfaces clean and free of contaminants. Employees are able to clean the room faster than with traditional methods, and the rooms are left cleaner, reducing the amount of diseases spread from restroom germs.
To learn more about disease prevention in restrooms, click here.