Are jet air dryers not as hygienic as we thought they were?

A new study warns that jet air dryers are not as hygienic as they are put across to be. In fact, they mustn't be used in hospitals at all as they can spread germs. It is a lot safer to use paper napkins instead, the study states. “The problem starts because some people do not wash their hands properly,” said Mark Wilcox, a professor at the University of Leeds in the UK. “When people use a jet-air dryer, the microbes get blown off and spread around the toilet room,” said Wilcox.



“In effect, the dryer creates an aerosol that contaminates the toilet room, including the dryer itself and potentially the sinks, floor and other surfaces, depending on the dryer design and where it is sited,” he said. “If people touch those surfaces, they risk becoming contaminated by bacteria or viruses,” he added.



“We found multiple examples of greater bacterial contamination on surfaces, including by faecal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, when jet-air dryers rather than paper towels were in use,” said Wilcox. “Choice of hand drying method affects how likely microbes can spread, and so possibly the risk of infection,” he said.



Well, it certainly looks like you should opt for paper towels instead. Stay tuned for more updates.