If someone asked you to name the dirtiest thing in your house, would you automatically say your toilet seat? You probably would, but you’d be wrong.
We asked Janet Conner, the infection prevention western region director at North Colorado Medical Center, whether we need to worry about our toilets getting us sick. Conner explained that even though toilet seats come in contact with germs, they have fewer overall because they’re cleaned much more often (and more thoroughly) than other common household items like doorknobs.
Lucky for us, “transmission of microorganisms that cause illness from a toilet seat happens via the fecal-oral route,” explained Conner. “If you wash your hands, you can prevent illness by eliminating the pathway for microorganisms to enter your mouth.”
Feeling ill? Many Banner Health facilities have doctors who specialize in treating infectious diseases. Visit BannerHealth.com to find a doctor near you.
