Men's offices in large cities such as New York, San Francisco and Tucson (Arizona) contain more bacteria than women's offices

Using sample of 90 offices New York, San Francisco and Tucson (Arizona), a team of researchers led by Scott Kelley, a microbiologist at San Diego State University, found that objects (incl. phones and chairs ) in men's offices are covered in more bacteria than those in women's offices.  Men are good candidates to spread bacteria around, as their offices contain 10% to 20% more bacteria than their women’s offices.  The study is being published on the journal PLoS One.

Researchers found office equipment such as computer desktops, keyboards, and mice contain fewer bacteria than phones and chairs.   Researchers found most of office equipment and furniture contain typical bacteria including bacteria which usually found on skin, noses, and mouths.  Even worse, researchers also found some bacteria were from waste product including from human and animal's digestive tract.  Other type of bacteria from shoes and clothes were also found in offices.

Comments

[fiona]

This is interesting, as there is also research that suggest womens hands carry more bacteria than men, so it's strange to see this doesn't transcend into the office. I wonder how very mixed offices are affected, or 70/30 splits. E.g, would a few more men create a dirtier office, or would the women there make it cleaner?

[Dan]

I would think so because women are cleaner than men. I have seen tons of desks both clean and dirty or untidy. How did they get bacteria from the digestive system on such objects is beyond me.