From foodconsumer.org
Not all bacteria are equally dangerous
By Sue Mueller
Dec 2, 2007 - 3:12:38 PM
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SUNDAY DEC, 2007 (Foodconsumer.org) -- Health.com rates some places are riskier than elsewhere in terms of infections. These places include kitchen sink, airplane bathrooms, a load of web laundry, public drinking fountains, shopping cart handles, ATM buttons, handbag, playgrounds, mats and machines at health clubs, bathtub, your office phone and hotel-room remote.
The article seems to rank the dirtiness of the places based on their counts of bacteria. But consumers should be aware that not all bacteria are equally dangerous. Only pathogenic bacteria pose risk to your health. Because of this, public places are generally more risky than those places you and your family use alone such as bathtub and your office phone. Particularly, as you can imagine, the riskiest place should be in hospitals and clinics.
Remember MRSA or the super bugs used to harbor in hospitals only? The point is that more bacteria do not mean higher risk. Don’t be led to believe whatever you are told.
http://www.health.com/health/slideshow/0,26086,1673222,00.html