Bacteria phobics, brace yourselves. A study by U.S.-based IT training firm CBT Nuggets swabbed common office tech to reveal staggering microbe counts. The standout shocker: a computer keyboard harbors 20,598 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. But it's not even the worst offender.
Topping the list is the electronic badge, with 4,620,000 bacteria per 2.5 square centimeters. Mobile phones rank third at over 1.6 million bacteria per 2.5 cm—that's 31,374 times more than a pen. The computer mouse follows in fourth with more than 1.3 million. Even touchpads on tablets pack 162 times more bacteria than silver surfaces. Researchers identified mainly Gram-positive cocci, bacteria tied to food poisoning and other illnesses.
Time to grab those antibacterial wipes and keep your workspace clean.
