Do you know what a 'colony forming unit' (cfu) is?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381953)
Rockingham, Australia
August 6, 2018 7:42am CST
I read an interesting article this evening in the Travel section of our weekend paper. It was about ‘colony forming units’. What, you might ask, are colony forming units (cfu)? It is a measurement of bacteria and fungal cells.
A research company recently conducted 18 tests on surfaces in three major US airports. The results might have you taking along hand sanitiser when you travel, if you don’t already. The places with the most cfus were self check-in screens with many measuring 253,857 cfu and one a whopping one million. Flush buttons on toilets were other surfaces that recorded high levels – more than 95,000cuf.
As a comparison, most kitchen sinks register 21,000cfu and a toilet seat 172cfu. I’m one of those who don’t take hand sanitiser with me but I think I might in future.
The photo is of some beach art at Port Noarlunga near Adelaide, South Australia.
17 people like this
14 responses
@DaddyEvil (174335)
• United States
10 Aug 18
Eww,,, That's gross, Judy! For readings to be that high, that means those screens and toilet handles must never get cleaned! (The toilets I've come in contact with in the last (I believe.) 10 years haven't had handles. They're all automatic flush types. You don't have to touch anything. Even the faucets at the sinks use motion sensors to turn on and off.)
I do carry a small container of hand sanitizer on me all the time. It's about the size of a credit card but twice as thick. It has a spray button on it to dispense the sanitizer.
That is some odd looking art in your photo. What is it supposed to be?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174335)
• United States
10 Aug 18
@JudyEv 
Isn't it amazing how looking at something through someone else's eyes can add or change how we see something? 
Isn't it amazing how looking at something through someone else's eyes can add or change how we see something? 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381953)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Aug 18
@xFiacre thinks it's a rude sign, @JohnRoberts thinks it's aliens smoking so you can take your pick. It's just an installation on a beach in South Australia. I guess they're just totem poles.
It's just an installation on a beach in South Australia. I guess they're just totem poles.1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381953)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Aug 18
@DaddyEvil I didn't think about the butts but (!) you're right.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
6 Aug 18
I almost never use hand sanitizer but I am careful how I wash my hands so as not to touch anything and get more germs on my hands instead. I thought cfus had something to do with your photo so I was not expecting cfus to be what they are. I had heard airplanes are extremely full of bacteria so I shouldn't be surprised the airports are as well.
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@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
8 Aug 18
I think I read about that and appreciate the fact that there are hand santiser stations in more and more places.
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@snowy22315 (208832)
• United States
6 Aug 18
You know honestly, I don't want to know! One thing I have noticed is that grocery stores now provide hand sanitizers with shopping carts..and that is probably a good thing. Especially in cold and flu season it is needed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381953)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Aug 18
I haven't seen that. It's disturbing when you first read such information but then I forget about it after a few days so it's all good.
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
6 Aug 18
I learned something new today. I'm more aware of germs now than ever.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381953)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Aug 18
I guess any public place will have more germs than normal.
@moffittjc (128833)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Aug 18
We can't build up immunities to germs and microbes if we don't ever let ourselves get exposed to them! However, with that being said, I do always make sure to wash my hands after touching things in high traffic areas of public places. But in general, I don't use hand sanitizer that often, although I do keep some in my vehicle.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381953)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Aug 18
I've always thought it a bit of overkill but now I'm not so sure.
@JESSY3236 (22247)
• United States
7 Aug 18
I have hand sanitiser, but I hardly used it so I stopped carrying it in purse.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
6 Aug 18
Thanks for the information. You learn something new every day.
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@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
6 Aug 18
It doesn't surprise me. But there are heavy bacteria amounts everywhere so you may a swell wear gloves at all times.
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