Comparison of Microbial Contaminaiton on Fomite Surfaces in Public Restrooms by Location and Gender Factors

Tevhide Elif Güner; Enise Begüm Göçmez; Birol Merkan; Selen Kireçci; Hakan Tavşanlı

Makale detayları

Comparison of Microbial Contaminaiton on Fomite Surfaces in Public Restrooms by Location and Gender Factors

Yazarlar:

Tevhide Elif Güner | Enise Begüm Göçmez | Birol Merkan | Selen Kireçci | Hakan Tavşanlı

Yayıncı:

Balıkesir University

Ana Başlıklar:

Veteriner Gıda Hijyeni ve Teknolojisi

Dergi:

Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 2, pp.281-287

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357564

pISSN:

2146-9601

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Objective: This study aims to investigate the microbial contamination on fomite surfaces such as door handles and faucets in student and staff toilets at Balikesir University and to examine the relationship of contamination with surface location and gender. Materials and Methods: A total of 128 samples were collected using a sterile sponge swab method; 64 samples were obtained from fomite surfaces in female 32 and male 32 restrooms, while another 64 samples were taken from fomites on the right 32 and left 32 sides. The presence of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria TAMB, StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp., coliform bacteria, and Escherichia coli was assessed. Results: TAMB levels on faucet surfaces did not significantly differ between genders p0.05, whereas StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts were significantly higher in male restrooms p0.05. Exit door handles exhibited a higher bacterial load compared to entrance door handles, with statistically significant differences observed in TAMB and StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts p0.05. Contamination levels varied depending on fomite location, with the highest StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts detected on faucets on the right side and door handles on the left side. No coliform bacteria or E. coli were detected in any sample. Conclusion: A significant level of microbial contamination was detected on restroom fomite surfaces, with higher StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. levels in male restrooms and increased contamination on exit door handles. These findings indicate that microbial contamination on toilet fomite surfaces may pose a risk to public health and that hygiene measures should be improved, especially on surfaces with a high risk of microbial contamination.

 Objective: This study aims to investigate the microbial contamination on fomite surfaces such as door handles and faucets in student and staff toilets at Balikesir University and to examine the relationship of contamination with surface location and gender. Materials and Methods: A total of 128 samples were collected using a sterile sponge swab method; 64 samples were obtained from fomite surfaces in female 32 and male 32 restrooms, while another 64 samples were taken from fomites on the right 32 and left 32 sides. The presence of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria TAMB, StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp., coliform bacteria, and Escherichia coli was assessed. Results: TAMB levels on faucet surfaces did not significantly differ between genders p0.05, whereas StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts were significantly higher in male restrooms p0.05. Exit door handles exhibited a higher bacterial load compared to entrance door handles, with statistically significant differences observed in TAMB and StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts p0.05. Contamination levels varied depending on fomite location, with the highest StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts detected on faucets on the right side and door handles on the left side. No coliform bacteria or E. coli were detected in any sample. Conclusion: A significant level of microbial contamination was detected on restroom fomite surfaces, with higher StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. levels in male restrooms and increased contamination on exit door handles. These findings indicate that microbial contamination on toilet fomite surfaces may pose a risk to public health and that hygiene measures should be improved, especially on surfaces with a high risk of microbial contamination.

 Objective: This study aims to investigate the microbial contamination on fomite surfaces such as door handles and faucets in student and staff toilets at Balikesir University and to examine the relationship of contamination with surface location and gender. Materials and Methods: A total of 128 samples were collected using a sterile sponge swab method; 64 samples were obtained from fomite surfaces in female 32 and male 32 restrooms, while another 64 samples were taken from fomites on the right 32 and left 32 sides. The presence of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria TAMB, StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp., coliform bacteria, and Escherichia coli was assessed. Results: TAMB levels on faucet surfaces did not significantly differ between genders p0.05, whereas StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts were significantly higher in male restrooms p0.05. Exit door handles exhibited a higher bacterial load compared to entrance door handles, with statistically significant differences observed in TAMB and StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts p0.05. Contamination levels varied depending on fomite location, with the highest StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. counts detected on faucets on the right side and door handles on the left side. No coliform bacteria or E. coli were detected in any sample. Conclusion: A significant level of microbial contamination was detected on restroom fomite surfaces, with higher StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. levels in male restrooms and increased contamination on exit door handles. These findings indicate that microbial contamination on toilet fomite surfaces may pose a risk to public health and that hygiene measures should be improved, especially on surfaces with a high risk of microbial contamination.

 Amaç: Bu çalışma, Balıkesir Üniversitesindeki öğrenci ve personel tuvaletlerinde kapı kolları ve musluklar gibi fomit yüzeylerdeki mikrobiyal kontaminasyonu araştırarak, kontaminasyonun yüzey konumu ve cinsiyet ile ilişkisini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Toplam 128 örnek, steril sünger swab yöntemiyle toplanmıştır; bunların 64ü kadın 32 ve erkek 32 tuvaletlerindeki fomit yüzeylerden, 64ü ise sağ taraftaki 32 ve sol taraftaki 32 fomit yüzeylerden alınmıştır. Toplam aerobik mezofilik bakteri TAMB, StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp., koliform bakteriler ve Escherichia coli varlığı değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular: Musluk yüzeylerindeki TAMB seviyeleri cinsiyetler arasında anlamlı bir fark göstermemiştir p0.05, ancak StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. sayıları erkek tuvaletlerinde daha yüksek bulunmuştur p0.05. Çıkış kapı kollarında giriş kapı kollarına kıyasla daha yüksek bakteriyel yük tespit edilmiştir ve TAMB ile StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. sayıları açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılık gözlenmiştir p0.05. Kontaminasyon fomit konumuna bağlı olarak değişiklik göstermiştir; en yüksek StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. sayıları sağ taraftaki musluklarda ve sol taraftaki kapı kollarında bulunmuştur. Hiçbir örnekte koliform bakteri veya E. coli tespit edilmemiştir. Sonuç: Tuvalet fomit yüzeylerinde önemli düzeyde mikrobiyal kontaminasyon saptanmış olup, erkek tuvaletlerinde StaphylococcusMicrococcus spp. seviyelerinin daha yüksek olduğu ve çıkış kapı kollarında artan kontaminasyonun olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu bulgular, tuvalet fomit yüzeylerindeki mikrobiyal kontaminasyonun halk sağlığı açısından risk oluşturabileceğini ve özellikle mikrobiyal bulaşma riski yüksek yüzeylerde hijyen önlemlerinin iyileştirilmesi gerektiğini göstermektedir.

Makale detayları

Comparison of Microbial Contaminaiton on Fomite Surfaces in Public Restrooms by Location and Gender Factors

Yazarlar:

Tevhide Elif Güner | Enise Begüm Göçmez | Birol Merkan | Selen Kireçci | Hakan Tavşanlı

Yayıncı:

Balıkesir University

Ana Başlıklar:

Veteriner Gıda Hijyeni ve Teknolojisi

Dergi:

Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 2, pp.281-287

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357564

pISSN:

2146-9601

Fomite surfaces

Gender

Hand hygiene

Microbial contaminationFomit yüzeyler

Cinsiyet

El hijyeni

Mikrobiyal kontaminasyon

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Tevhide Elif Güner | Enise Begüm Göçmez | Birol Merkan | Selen Kireçci | Hakan Tavşanlı

Yayıncı: Balıkesir University

Ana Başlıklar: Veteriner Gıda Hijyeni ve Teknolojisi

Dergi: Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 2, pp.281-287

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 8/2025

Belge Dili: İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.): 2001357564

pISSN: 2146-9601

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Tevhide Elif Güner | Enise Begüm Göçmez | Birol Merkan | Selen Kireçci | Hakan Tavşanlı

Yayıncı:

Balıkesir University

Ana Başlıklar:

Veteriner Gıda Hijyeni ve Teknolojisi

Dergi:

Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 2, pp.281-287

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

8/2025

Belge Dili:

İngilizce

Document ID (Org No.):

2001357564

pISSN:

2146-9601