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out they are "less hygienic. Researchers are actually stating that jet
air dryers spread 27times more microbes than paper towels.
New research funded by a trade organization of paper towel
manufacturers suggests that towels spread less bacteria.
Previous studies have shown mixed results, some finding air dryers
spread more bacteria and others showing they're as safe as towels. A
review of past studies published in 2012 in the Mayo Clinic
Proceedings suggested that in healthcare settings, at least, "paper
towels should be recommended."
In the new study, jet air dryers spread 27 times the microbes as paper
towels, and four times more microbes than warm-air machines,
researchers said in a presentation last week in France at a meeting of
the European Tissue Symposium, which sponsored the work.
Lead author Mark Wilcox and his colleagues had volunteers dip gloved
hands into yogurt containing lactobacilli, a type of "friendly"
bacteria. Then, the volunteers dried their hands using jet air dryers,
warm air dryers, and paper towels.
The test was repeated 60 times over six weeks for 20 collections of each method.
From one meter away, the average airborne bacterial counts, measured
in so-called colony-forming units, were 89.5 when the gloved hands
were dried with jet air dryers, 18.7 using warm air dryers, and 2.2
from paper towels.
To assess the potential spread of bacteria visually, individuals
dipped their gloved hands in black paint and wore white disposable
suits backwards with the hoods covering their faces. When they dried
their hands, there were 230 visible spots from the jet air driers and
130 from the warm air dryers. None were found on people who used paper
towels.
Wilcox, who is a consultant/head of microbiology at Leeds Teaching
Hospitals in the U.K., pointed out in email to Reuters Health that
drying hands thoroughly is an important way to avoid spreading
bacteria to other people or surfaces.
"I had made the disconcerting observation that when using some jet air
driers I could feel droplets hitting my face," said Wilcox of his
interest in doing the study. "For an infection control doctor, a key
principle is to reduce the risk of spread of microbes."
He and his co-authors say that more research is needed before anyone
can assume the air dryers spread more germs than towels.
(http://m.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/air-dryers-spread-germs-paper-towels-study-article-1.2045885)
