Microbial Ecology In Restroom

1. Restroom floor

1.1. Most diverse of all communities

1.2. Contained several taxa commonly found in soils

1.2.1. Rhodobacteraceae, Rhizobiales, Microbacteriaceae and Nocardioidaceae

1.3. Frequency of contact with the bottom of shoes

2. Surfaces routinely touched with hands

2.1. Door in/out, stall in/out, faucet handles and soap dispenser

2.1.1. Skin-associated bacteria

2.1.2. Propionibacteriaceae, dominated surfaces routinely touched with our hands

2.1.3. Human Papilloma and Herpes viruses

3. Toilet Surfaces (The seat and flush handle)

3.1. gut-associated taxa were more prevalent

3.2. fecal contamination of these surfaces

3.3. Firmicutes (e.g. Clostridiales, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, etc.) and Bacteroidetes (e.g. Prevotellaceae and Bacteroidaceae)

4. Certain taxa were more common in female than in male restrooms

4.1. Vagina-associated Lactobacillaceae

4.1.1. From urine contamination

4.2. Bacteria found in the vagina of healthy reproductive age women

5. Most of the organisms identified in these studies are related to human commensals

5.1. The organisms are not actively growing on the surfaces

5.2. The organism were deposited directly (i.e. touching) or indirectly (e.g. shedding of skin cells) by humans

6. potential vehicles for the transmission of human pathogens

6.1. Several pathogenic bacteria are known to survive on surfaces for extended periods of time

6.2. Could readily be transmitted between individuals by the touching of restroom surfaces.

7. In overall

7.1. Most sequences belonged to four phyla: Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria.