Desks crawling with bacteria

And the study also found that female office workers tend to have three to four times the amount of bacteria in, on and around their desks, drawers, keyboards, computers, phones and personal items than their male colleagues, the Associated Press reported.

"I thought for sure men would be germier. But women have more interactions with small children and keep food in their desks. The other problem is makeup," study author Charles Gerba, a professor of soil, water and environmental sciences at the University of Arizona, told the AP.

For this study, commissioned by the Clorox Co., Gerba tested more than 100 offices across the US.

Using a disinfectant on office surfaces can help reduce the amount of bacteria in offices, Gerba added. – (HealthDayNews)

February 2007