Workers have been warned to improve their hygiene after large numbers of potentially dangerous bacteria and fungi were discovered in communal kitchens.
CHAMPS, which is an organisation led by Cheshire and Merseyside’s directors of public health, commissioned scientists at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to analyse swabs taken from a number of different communal workplace kitchens. Microbes that are usually spread through faeces and many different types of fungus were discovered on kettles, fridge door handles, coffee machines and microwave buttons.
From office settings to construction sites, the investigation revealed how these items could be playing a major role in the spread of bacteria which could eventually lead to illnesses, especially among those with weakened immune systems.
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Examined swab samples revealed the presence of Escherichia coli (E.coli) on a coffee machine, fridge door handle and microwave control panel. E.coli can lead to a range of gastro-intestinal illnesses.
Additionally, a bacterium called Pseudomonas, which is often associated with respiratory infections, was also discovered on a coffee machine, fridge door handle and microwave control panel.
Evidence of Klebsiella, a microbe usually found in the human intestine and also spread via faeces, was present on almost all 11 kitchen items. Microbiologists also reported how each item was rife with fungi, with fridge door handles being among the worst affected.
Dr Adam Roberts is one of the chief researchers within the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), which is led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), led the study. He said that though many of the bacteria and fungi are everywhere all the time, they can pose a threat to those who already have weakened immune systems.
He said: “We live among bacteria and fungi, coming into contact with them every single day as we go about our normal lives. Some microbes, if ingested into our bodies, can lead to illness and infection, so the easiest way to help prevent this from happening is to wash our hands regularly, especially after going to the toilet, and before and after eating.
"The results from this study showed communal kitchen areas to be full of various types of bacteria, many of which can be found in faeces. This is, of course, an extremely unpleasant thought but one which could indicate that people are simply not washing their hands thoroughly – or at all – after going to the toilet and then going to make themselves a cup of tea or preparing their lunch, for example.
"The potential knock-on effect of this is that, if an individual who is more susceptible to infection, then touches those same surfaces, they may be at risk of becoming ill. The simple way to try to minimise this risk though is to practise good hand hygiene as much as possible.”
As a result, Champs Public Health Collaborative is urging workers and employers to play their part and step up their hand hygiene, paying particular attention to communal areas such as kitchens and shared workspaces.
Thara Raj, director of public health for Warrington, and Cheshire and Merseyside’s lead director of public health for health protection, said: “Following the pandemic, it’s fantastic to see so many people returning to in-person working, interacting with their colleagues and collaborating with their team once again.
“But of course, each time we go to work, whatever the setting might be, we are likely to be constantly touching surfaces that contain multiple bacteria. Shared kitchens, which almost every workplace will have, are busy areas with a high footfall, meaning cross-contamination and the associated risk of illness is very likely.
“Fridge door handles, coffee machines and kettles seemed to be the places where the most bacteria was, all of which are items that we’ll likely touch several times each day. The key thing to remember is that these bacteria are completely invisible to the naked eye so, while these items may look clean, they could in fact be home to lots of different microbes.
“We can’t avoid touching items like this while at work – and we shouldn’t – but there are simple things that we can do to minimise their impact, particularly if you have a pre-existing medical condition or you are visiting loved ones in care homes or in hospitals, for example. So, it’s vital that we all do what we can to help reduce the spread of infections, all year round."
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