Study Urges Hospitals to Ban Jet Air Hand Dryers

Every flush of an uncovered toilet sends fecal matter flying into the air, science tells us, a phenomenon known as "toilet plume." That makes hand washing in shared restrooms particularly important, especially in hospitals where germs mingle among weakened immune systems.

And if hospitals can't halt the plumes, their next best step may be to ditch high-powered hand dryers. Bathrooms with jet dryers can host five times more bacteria on their floors than those employing paper towels, a recent study found.

Researchers behind the study, published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, argue that hospitals should avoid such high-powered dryers to combat bacterial spread.

Source: USA Today