Bacteria in Mall Restrooms

 

By Kristy Douglas

 

 

Diseases in Mall Bathrooms—Do They Really Affect You?

 

Bathrooms can be filthy places; there are a surprising amount of viruses/bacteria living on the toilet, the sink or even the door handle. Many harmful diseases are caught by people who use the bathroom and do not take the time to properly cleanse themselves afterwards. Public bathrooms are much worse. Generally, they are cleaned less regularly and are used by a variety of different people all with different hygienic patterns. A concern is that the Filipinos do not properly understand how to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading in public bathrooms.

Not all public mall bathrooms in the Philippines are properly cleaned, and the issue of sanitary bathrooms really affects the Filipinos. A trusting Filipino may quickly use an unsanitary public bathroom when in need and ignorantly pick up harmful germs in the process. By carelessly forgetting to wash his hands or simply touching a virus hotspot, a disease could be spread and passed from one person to another. Many Filipinos are simply not aware of the diseases caused by bacteria and viruses found in bathrooms. If they knew what harmful diseases they are susceptible to and how to prevent them, would they avoid them?

This is a concern that is easy to fix. There are several ways to decrease the amount of dangerous germs in the bathroom and to keep it sanitary. According to section four of the Environmental Childcare Health Services, some easy sanitary tips would include: a regular cleaning schedule, a proper paper towel dispenser, an enclosed bathroom with walls and a roof, some sort of ventilation, sinks close to the stalls, a smooth floor, and good lighting.

Marsha Raasch, an avid researcher on bathroom diseases, believes that when entering a bathroom, a person is vulnerable to many diseases such as the Mount Allison virus, the flue, colds, gastrointestinal viruses, salmonella, and E. coli, which may include vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. By educating the Filipinos in using public bathrooms, some of these illnesses can be prevented. The primary reason this becomes an issue is simply ignorance. A Filipino may not be educated how to properly wash his hands and clean up after himself, and he could unknowingly spread harmful diseases.

However, some questions still remain. What is the chance that a person will actually be infected by a virus? Where is the most common place in the bathroom for a virus or bacteria to live? How do the viruses or bacteria get there? Can it be prevented? What is an efficient way to clean bathrooms? How often should a public bathroom be cleaned? What are some ways people can avoid being infected by the virus or bacteria? What are the most common viruses or bacteria found in public bathrooms in the Philippines? What diseases do they cause?

The process is simple. By educating the Filipinos in the malls about the dangerous viruses and bacteria that could be spread, they could easily learn how to avoid infection. Helpful signs could be posted in stalls as a reminder to wash hands properly and the simple steps that make it most effective. Also, other signs could be posted listing the possible common diseases people catch from bathrooms. Soap and sanitary blow driers would also minimize the risk of being infected. By teaching the local Filipinos these helpful tips, the high risk of disease-causing viruses could be easily prevented from their lives and even spreading to other countries across the world.  

 

 

 

Biology of Salmonella Bacteria

 

Common Names and Synony

     Salmonella is the common name for disease-causing bacteria Salmonella enterica, sometimes known as Salmonella choleraesuis. The three most common types of S. enterica are Typhi which causes typhoid fever; Typhimurium which can cause gastroenteritis (stomach ache) or salmonellosis; and Enteritidis from food poisoning. They are all closely related, causing relating diseases with similar side affects.

 

Classification

Kingdom: Eubacteria

Phylum: Proteobacteria

Class: Gamma Proteobacteria (radiation bacteria)

Order: Enterobacteriales (small staff)

Family: Enterobacteriaceae (small staff)

Genus: Salmonella (named after Daniel E. Salmon)

Species: S. enterica (small internal staff bacteria) 

 

Morphology and Physical Description

     The S. enterica is a rod-shaped bacteria about 0.7 to 1.5 micrometres (one thousandths of a millimeter) in diameter and 2 to 5 micrometres long. That is about the size of a dust particle on the head of a pin. It is gram-negative, meaning it turns a violet colour when it is stained. Because they have a peachy colour, they are easily recognizable on a bacterial plate. A common characteristic of the Salmonella enterica bacteria is its smell. It makes hydrogen sulfide which gives a rotten egg odor.

Salmonella produces H₂S from the inorganic sulfur, and a variety of acids and gasses from the glucose. Some of its antigens include polysaccharide capsule (K or Vi antigen), H antigen, and some O antigens. The longer someone is exposed to these antigens (especially the O and the H antigen), the more antibodies are produced, building up immunity to some diseases.

Because the temperature of the environment doesn’t prevent the reproduction of these bacteria, diseases are easily spread. Diseases can infect and be transferred by both warm and cold blooded animals. The chemical formula for enteritis (disease that inflames the intestines), 10₈ CFU, can cause an especially dangerous dose, and can be found in poultry, eggs, dairy products, and cross-contaminated foods.

Once it is internalized, the bacteria punctures the mucus (particularly in the small intestine) past the epithelial layer (enterocytes) and to the subepithelial tissue. Here is where the bacteria reproduce. They multiply, causing an infection. Then, some bacteria can transport themselves to any other area of the body. In order to counteract this invasion of bacteria cells, the body releases prostaglandins. Unfortunately, the body will already be suffering from the disease before the prostaglandins can destroy the harmful cells.

The S. enterica has a protective cell wall next to the cytoplasmic membrane. This membrane controls the materials transported in and out of the cytoplasm. In the cell wall is a peptidoglycan, a thin polymer which allows the cell to be stained (making it gram-negative). The outer membrane is made up of phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides which help an animal’s immune system.

All the genetic information in the cell, including the cell’s DNA, is in the nucleoid region. The pilus helps move the DNA from inside the cell to another bacterium. The S. enterica moves using its flagellum, or whip-like tail.

 

Getting Food

     Like all other animals, Salmonella enterica is a chemoorganotroph, meaning its energy source comes from organic compounds such as sugars, alkaloids and terpenoids or anything containing carbon. Because they are facultative anaerobes, the Salmonella enterica bacteria can use aerobic respiration with oxygen or fermentation without oxygen. Usually, the Salmonella bacteria lives on a living thing like a human or animal. Then, it obtains its energy from its host cell.

 

Reproduction

The Salmonella enterica bacteria doesn’t produce spores, but it does reproduce asexually. Through binary fission, the organism copies itself without using the combining of gametes.

Actually, Salmonella reproduce quite rapidly, when in the right environment with the correct temperature (about 35 degrees C), food, and moisture. They reproduce once every 20-40 minutes. That means that in just a few hours, one bacterium can multiply, forming millions more. Because the right environment is essential for the bacteria to reproduce, it is most likely Salmonella will reproduce on a host cell. The reproduction occurs in a wide variety of hosts such as humans, wild and domestic mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. However, it is possible for the bacteria to multiply in feces or without a host cell, but the conditions have to be just right, and it is not as probable.

Generally, Salmonella reproduces all throughout the year, but the most common season is in the hot summer months. 

Environmental Factors

         Because it is a parasite, this bacterium uses other living things to survive. Without living on another living organism, it is still possible to survive but not as common. In fact, it has been found that a Salmonella enterica bacterium lived in excrement that was two and a half years old. This proves that they don’t always depend on another living thing to live on. The Salmonella enterica bacteria can not die by refrigeration or freezing. It only is killed if the temperature exceeds 54 degrees Celsius for at least an hour.

A competitor of Salmonella is Pseudomonas, which is also a type of gamma proteobacteria. The Pseudomona bacteria have similar characteristics to Salmonella, but still is an enemy.

The bacteria do not have a symbiotic relationship. It lives on a host cell and obtains its energy from it, but the host cell does not benefit in any way. In fact, Salmonella usually inflicts the host cell with harmful diseases.

 

Origin and Distribution

Since Salmonella enterica bacteria are zoonotic, its disease can be spread by animals to people or by people to animals. Humans can be infected by eating contaminated food such as an infected animal such as cattle, poultry, domestic cats or hamsters. Salmonella typhi can be spread by flies, fingers, food, and feces, to name a few.

These bacteria were first discovered in 1885 by Dr. Daniel E. Salmon, which is where they got their name. Even though it was not discovered before, it was still existent. In the same way, Salmonella is found worldwide, and there is no specific instant where it appeared in the Philippines, or any other location.

However, it is known that it was carried to the USA by Americans who were living in the Philippines. They were infected with S. enterica in the Filipino hospitals and brought it back when they returned to the US.

 

Importance to People

According the Department of Health in the Philippines, salmonella has become a problem in the Eastern Visayas. The bacteria infected hundreds of hogs in the town of Samar and around 750 pigs in other villages. This widespread of S. enterica could have come from poor sanitation, contaminated feeds, improper care of animals and even the bad weather condition. It is suggested that the Filipinos only buy their pork from the National Meat Inspection Services (NMIS).

          People need to see the danger of the Salmonella enterica bacteria and figure out ways to avoid its spread. In the December 9 Manila Bulletin of 200, it said, “In the Philippines where proper sanitation is becoming a problem because of waste management problems, it is important that communities be informed about the nature of typhoid fever and how it can be prevented.” It can be a danger to people, so we need to learn how to properly take care of our surroundings in order to prevent its spreading.

            A very practical example of learning to take care of our surroundings is in public mall bathrooms. Instead of spreading the bacteria, it can easily be avoided. Simple tasks like washing hands after use of a bathroom, cleaning bathrooms, properly disposing of wastes, and learning the danger of not doing these things, can help reduce the spread of harmful diseases from this bacterium.

 

Survivability and Endangered Status

            The Salmonella enterica bacteria are certainly not endangered. There are about 40,000 reported cases of salmonellosis annually in the United States, and about 400 people each year die from it. This is because they can survive in a variety of temperatures, from hot, sunny, and humid to cold and arid. They are even known to survive in household vacuum cleaners!

Like most other bacteria, its population is huge all over the world. In fact, the trouble is managing them! People need to be taught how to prevent the spreading of harmful diseases caused by Salmonella and learn how to manage the growing population.

Also, because of their extremely fast reproduction rate, there is no risk of Salmonella from being endangered. A single Salmonella bacterium can form millions more in just a few hours.

 

 

 

Potential Solutions

 

Overview

            Can Salmonella really cause harmful diseases? The answer is yes, and it is very easy to spread these disease-causing bacteria without even knowing it. One of the easiest ways is when someone does not properly wash their hands after using the bathroom. Then, if they handle food, or touch a commonly touched surface (such as a door knob), the bacteria is spread. As soon as an innocent bystander eats the contaminated food or touches the same surface and then rubs his/her eyes or licks his/her finger, the bacteria is spread. Some of the many diseases the bacteria can cause include the MountAllison virus, colds, the flue, gastrointestinal viruses, Salmonellosis, and enterocolitis, which may include headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, a fever, abdominal pain, nausea, and dehydration. About 600 Americans die each year from Salmonellosis alone. Below are 4 possibilities that can reduce the spread of Salmonella, or any other bacterium in public bathrooms.

 

Possibility 1             Educate children how they can prevent catching or spreading diseases

            Starting a class for young children could prove beneficial in reducing the spread of diseases. It is important to get kids into the habit of properly washing their hands after every time they use the bathroom. Salmonellosis is most likely to infect children, especially in places with warm temperature like the Philippines. Handing out fun tracks would grab their attention, and they could learn to wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing one of their favourite songs (like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or the ABCs).                                                                  

Advantages:

1. Kids would enjoy learning how to take care of their body, and it would teach them something that would be beneficial to them in the future. By getting in the habit while they are still young, the risk of being infected will be minimized as they get older. 

2. When they go home, they can teach their parents what they’ve learned, and show them the track. Then, the parents as well, could learn and reduce their likelihood of being infected. 

Disadvantages:

1. The average income for Filipino families is not more than $200. Many Filipino families may not have the money to provide their family with soap and disposable paper towels. Children would be taught how to use lots of soap and dry their hands afterwards, but may not have the proper supplies at home for it to be effective. 

2. Forty-eight percent of Filipino households do not have running water. Parents may discourage their kids from washing their hands because they have to haul in every ounce of water by bucket. There is also no guarantee that whatever water the family uses is clean. It could be filled with bacteria.  

3. A one-time teaching lesson may not cement it in children’s minds, and it would only affect a few families. For there to be a significant change, more than a few children would have to be reached. That would mean teaching several classes to hundreds of different children. This would not be plausible for a high school student. One class could be achieved, but for it to be most effective, more children would have to be reached.

     

Possibility 2             Teach janitors how to effectively clean the bathrooms

            Most public bathrooms in the Philippines have janitors. The problem is that these janitors may not know how to properly clean the bathrooms. Their jobs are to make the bathrooms look clean, but are the bathrooms really free from bacteria? Public bathrooms, especially in the malls are heavily used by people with different hygienic patterns. Because of this, the bathroom needs to be thoroughly cleaned more than once a week. Maybe every couple days, depending how used it is. 

Advantages:  

1. If janitors frequently cleaned the bathrooms well, the risk of catching diseases would be dramatically reduced. By cleaning them often enough, it would leave little time for any bacteria to reproduce and spread. Bathrooms would be a safer place to put on make-up or brush your teeth without having to worry about bacteria on the counter that could infect you through your toothbrush or mascara brush. 

2. By teaching them where the bacteria hotspots are, they can take extra care in cleaning those areas, maybe even everyday. 

3. It is easy for janitors to make a checklist, to remind them when they last cleaned what area of the bathroom. It keeps themselves accountable for what they have done and what they need to do. It is also helpful to the users of the bathrooms to know if it is properly taken care of. 

Disadvantages:

1. The mall may not be able to afford to supply all the public bathrooms with the proper cleansers and instruments used to clean them. Proper cleansers are expensive, and they run out, especially when they are used so often. Cleaning equipment lasts a little longer, but investing in so many supplies does not make any money. 

2. Bathrooms are not top priority. They are free to use, so it is not a necessity to keep all of them properly managed. The mall wants to make as much money as possible, and investing in the bathrooms probably would not add to their customers. 

3. There is no guarantee that the janitor will put into practice anything said. They have a boss over them and have to follow the orders he/she says on how to clean the bathrooms. Also, it is not fun cleaning dirty places, and their pay would not be raised if they spend extra care cleaning the especially contaminated areas. 

 

Possibility 3             Provide bathrooms with products that reduce the spread of diseases

            The mall bathrooms in the Philippines are generally not well endowed with proper supplies. Most often, there is no toilet paper, paper towels, working blow dryers, and sometimes even soap available. 

Advantages:

1. After using the toilet, soap, water, and some type of drying device is a necessity, and supplying bathrooms with these products would greatly minimize the risk of spreading diseases. Many Filipinos don’t wash their hands simply because soap isn’t provided, but by providing the supplies, more people will wash their hands. 

2.  The bathroom over viewers would be thrilled to receive a gift of soap, paper towels, and toilet paper. It may also be an incentive to them to them to keep supplying the bathrooms with these products. 

Disadvantages:

1. This would be extremely costly to install in every bathroom blow dryers and provide toilet paper and soap. A one-time donation would help, but it wouldn’t guarantee a long-term benefit. 

2. The option would be open for people to wash their hands, but it doesn’t promise that people will actually do it. Some people will forget and others simply don’t know how to properly wash their hands.

 

Possibility 4             Put signs in public bathrooms

Some people do not wash their hands simply because they do not remember. By putting signs in the mall bathrooms, people would be taught the simple step-by-step method to properly wash their hands. They would see the sign while in the stall, read it, and most likely remember to properly wash their hands before leaving the bathroom. Also, signs listing the possible diseases that are spread in bathrooms could teach them something they never knew before and probably wished they had. 

Advantages:

1. The signs would remind the people to wash their hands after each use, so people will have no excuse of forgetting. 

2. It can teach the people the danger of unwashed hands. They would learn the importance of it and maybe put it into practice even in their homes. 

3. It can show them how to properly wash their hands with step-by-step pictures and descriptions. 

Disadvantages:

1. People still might not listen. There is no guarantee. 

2. There still may not be the necessities they need provided. 

3. It doesn’t reach everyone. It only reaches the people who happen to go to those bathrooms and see it.

 

 

 

 

What I Did

 

My action step was possibility number four. I made two kinds of signs. I printed out several describing the step-by-step task of properly washing hands. This would be a good reminder to people to wash their hands and would also teach them how to wash them properly. I also made signs listing the possible sicknesses they could get by not washing their hands after using the bathroom. This would teach them the danger of not properly washing their hands, and hopefully they would learn something. I then put these signs up in mall bathrooms, behind the stall doors, that way people can see it while they use the toilet, and hopefully remember to wash their hands afterwards.

I also interviewed several people, both in the mall and out of the mall, to see if they knew the danger of washing their hands. I asked them how often they did it, when they did it, and why they did it. Surprisingly, most of them didn’t know why they washed their hands. The best reason they gave was to protect them from getting sick. Here are a few pictures as proof of my interviews and action step:

 

 

 

 

 

Biblical Rationale

 

In the six days of creation God made everything and he “saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). He also “created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). God made us and he wants us to treat our bodies with respect. People don’t purposely get sick, but if we know how to prevent illnesses and don’t take those steps to keep our bodies healthy, we are indirectly hurting our bodies.

God said to us, “you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body” (I Corinthians 6:20). Because of Christ’s amazing sacrifice for us, I think he deserves our utmost care for what he died for. If we are careless in the way we live and purposefully forget to wash our hands or not bother to because we are lazy, God is not pleased. It is like we are telling him that we don’t care about what he made and died for if we “purposefully” get sick.

In the beginning, God made man perfect. God never intended for us to get sick or suffer pain, but when sin entered the world, people could get sick. Germs such as viruses and bacteria could inflict people, but God still loves us. He wants us to learn how to be wise in this world. It is good to learn about our bodies and things around us, such as the bacteria Salmonella, so we learn how to protect ourselves from sicknesses.

 

 

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