H1N1 and Hand Dryers

 Recently I came across an interesting article dealing with Hand Dryers in most public facilities. The article stated that the electric hand dryers found in most public toilets can dramatically increase the number of bacteria on people's hands and possibly harbor and spread the H1N1 virus.

First of all, H1N1 is not a bacterium, it is a virus. Bacteria and viruses are invisible.
Bacteria and viruses are not spread by hand dryers according to all studies. This is a fact backed by The Mayo Clinic and various research labs in Canada and the USA.

It has however been proven that most of these dryers are not properly maintained and do increase germ presence on hands. Tests show that after washing and drying hands with warm air dryers the total number of bacteria was found to increase on average on the finger pads by 194% and on the palms by 254%. Drying with the jet air dryer resulted in an increase on average of the total number of bacteria on the finger pads by 42% and on the palms by 15%. This compares to washing and drying hands with a paper towel where the total number of bacteria was reduced on average on the finger pads by up to 76% and on the palms by up to 77%.

The results of all parts of studies conducted by Scientists at the University of Westminster suggest that the use of warm air dryers and jet air dryers should be carefully re-considered in locations where hygiene is of paramount importance, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries, care homes, kitchens and other food preparation areas.

In public facilities, paper hand towels and not hand dryer use is highly reccomended for improved hygiene.