If you enjoy a regular tea break at work, this may make you think twice about boiling the kettle.
Scientists have been testing communal and office kitchens to assess how filthy the practice of sharing a brew might be.
Fungi, Bacteria On Tea Cups
The study discovered a large quantity of potentially harmful germs and fungi in common kitchens where numerous people used kettles, coffee machines, and microwaves in between toilet trips.
CHAMPS, an organization managed by the directors of public health in Cheshire and Merseyside, commissioned scientists at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to analyze swabs taken from a variety of shared workplace kitchens. Microbes and fungi that are normally conveyed through feces were identified on kettles, fridge door handles, coffee makers, and microwave buttons.
The inquiry found how these objects could be playing a key role in the spread of bacteria, which could eventually lead to illnesses, especially among those with compromised immune systems, from office environments to construction sites.
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Public Health Advice
Swabs taken from shared kitchen facilities in office buildings and construction worker areas revealed a variety of germs, including Escherichia coli, on ordinary items (E.coli). E.coli is a common bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Pseudomonas, a bacteria commonly associated with respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, was also found on these three products. Klebsiella, a bacteria that may cause pneumonia and spread through feces, was found on almost all 11 kitchen items.
Microbiologists also revealed that fungus was present in every item, with fridge door knobs being among the worst impacted.
Merseyside and Cheshire public health officials, who commissioned the study, are now asking employees who work in any shared place to keep washing their hands between tea and toilet breaks.
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