Abstract
The bacterial contamination of toilet seats in 124 public toilets such as department store, school, hospital, etc. was investigated and the effectiveness of application of commercial cleaner, paper cover was determined in a model system using an toilet seat artificially contaminated.
The number of total viable bacteria by colony counts on contact plates at the sampling positions varied considerably ranging from 4 to 1, 400 bacteria per 50 cm2 of toilet seat. Colony counts from samples collected during summer (from June to August) were higher than those during winter (October-March). Frequency of contamination of the seat by coliform groups was also higher during summer but the number was considerably low in comparison with that of total bacteria. The most frequently isolated genera were Gram-positive micrococci and bacilli, Aerococcus, Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, from both summer and winter samples and their probable origin was supposed to be human skins.
These results indicate that the toilet seats seem an unlikely source of infection.
Application of cleaners and covers was showed to prevent from contamination by bacteria and wet tissues which are free from bactericidal reagents are also showed to possess the effectiveness of removal.
