Ask A Scientist Molecular Biology Archive

name         Lila M.
status       student
age          13

Question -   How much bacteria grows on a public surface such as:
Telephone receivers, tables in a fast food restaurant, door handles,
chairs in a public place?
------------------------------------------------
There is bacteria growing on every possible surface there is.  Depending 
on the dryness of the surface, etc. there may be relatively little 
growing, but there is probably a lot.  However most of the organisms are 
not the kind that can make you sick.  You should not be too afraid of 
catching something in a public place.  It is certainly possible, but if it 
happened every time you touched something, you would be sick all the 
time.  Just be careful to wash your hands frequently and you should be fine.

vanhoeck
=========================================================