Up to 90 percent of mugs in office kitchens are coated in disease-causing germs and 20 percent actually carry faecal matter, according to a biologist.<\/p>\n
Bacteria from co-workers’ waste matter is spread among clean cups by communal kitchen sponges that are rarely changed, he warns.<\/p>\n
Using them infects them with coliform bacteria and E. coli, according to University of Arizona professor of environmental microbiology Dr Charles Gerba.<\/p>\n
The expert, who has carried out previous studies investigating this, told\u00a0New York Post: ‘Coliform bacteria were present on 20 percent of the coffee cups before and 100 percent of the coffee cups after wiping with a dishcloth or sponge.<\/p>\n
‘No E. coli was found on cups prior to wiping. However, 20 percent of coffee cups were positive for E. coli after wiping.’<\/p>\n
‘The presence of insanitary conditions in office kitchen and\/or coffee preparation areas is of concern.’<\/p>\n
Coliform bacteria is present in faeces. E. coli is a type of these germs and infection can cause diarrhoea, blood in poo, vomiting, stomach cramps, and fever.<\/p>\n
A small number of sufferers go on to develop a serious condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) which can sometimes lead to kidney failure.<\/p>\n
Dr Gerba, whose study was first published in the journal Dairy, Food and Environmental Sanitation, advises workers to take their mug home each night and putting it through the dishwasher.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, he suggest investing in a ‘small office cup washer’ to improve hygiene standards.<\/p>\n
In 2012, a study involving Dr Gerba, discovered men’s offices had ‘significantly’ more bacteria than women’s.<\/p>\n
The research team identified more than 500 bacterial strains, which came from human skin, nasal, oral and intestinal cavities.<\/p>\n
Chairs and phones had the most bacteria, while the desktop, keyboard and mouse were somewhat cleaner.<\/p>\n
Dr Lisa Ackerley, a leading hygiene expert from the University of Salford, previously told MailOnline that studies have found 50 per cent of people do not wash their hands.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s the simplest ways to spread disease. Even if they feel healthy they carry germs, like norovirus, which can infect others.\u2019<\/p>\n
Usually after going to the toilet we have around 200 million bacteria per square inch on each hand.<\/p>\n
And hands contaminated with viruses can transfer them to five more surfaces or 14 other subjects.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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