The Importance of Good Hygiene at Work or in Class!

Ask any woman in America, and she’ll likely tell you that men are not nearly as clean, or hygienic, as women are. And thanks to a new study[1], not only are women right, but they can also say men make office environments dirtier than women do!

Researchers[2] studied 90 offices in New York, San Francisco, and Tucson, and found that 549 different strains of bacteria live and thrive on office chairs, desktops, computer mice, keyboards, and phones. Also, as men tend to be larger in size than women, they leave more skin cells from their noses, mouths, and intestinal cavities in more areas of the office.

This study is important because it highlights two issues: that offices are havens for germs, and that those bacteria have the power to make us sick, which can lead to more absences from school or work. They can also pose a career risk if they develop into something serious.

With that being said, it is important that we all make sure to wash our hands and stay clean, even at home, to avoid bringing in, or spreading more bacteria.

Imagine if you asked to borrow a pen from someone in class, or at the office, and that pen contained bacteria which gave you a reaction that required a hospital visit. Medical bills can escalate quickly, and if you are too sick to go to class or work, you might have to suspend your normal activity until later, costing you resources like time and money.

Fortunately, the study found that most of the bacteria were harmless, barring any existing medical conditions. But the study is certainly a reminder that staying clean, healthy, and hygienic is important for the people around you as much as it is for yourself.

No one wants any visits to medical offices if they can be avoided, so wash up and help make the world bacteria-free!