Draft 3: Bathroom Bacteria Battle

This topic submitted by Lauren Davis, Dan Pierce, Brad Price, Audrey Savin (DavisLM@muohio.edu) at 3:00 PM on 10/16/02. Additions were last made on Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Section: Negron-Ortiz

Natural Systems 1 Fall, 2002 -Western Program-Miami University

Student Generated Lab
Bathroom Bacteria Battle
Introduction

The Bathroom Bacteria Battle hopes to concretely prove which of the sexes have cleaner bathrooms. We believe that the maleÕs bathroom will have less bacteria in it because of the fact that females use the bathrooms more often, therefore leaving more germs behind each time they use it.

To come up with an idea for our student generated lab, we first thought about studying topics that immediately affect us as college students here on the Western Campus. Bouncing back ideas from water purity to Alexander Dining Hall food, we finally came up with the idea of the cleanliness of our bathrooms. We assume that they are nice and clean yet we will find out for sure. Most bacteria are harmful for our bodies but not all. More than just dirt hanging around the bathroom is unhealthy and that is why we are determined to focus our investigation on bacteria in our bathrooms.

In our lab we plan to successfully find the level of bacteria in the bathrooms. If necessary, we will raise awareness of the bacteria levels so people will take more caution when using the bathrooms. We will contact campus health inspectors if the level is too high, and expect them to act on our findings. If we find in our investigation the level is dangerously high we hope it will bring immediate change in our cleaning processes within the bathrooms.

To the residents of Peabody Hall, our research will be important. Bathrooms are a place where one goes to clean themselves, but if the bathrooms are not clean the resident cannot be clean. Every person that enters the bathroom makes skin contact with places in the bathroom. With each contact there is a greater level of bacteria buildup. We hope that when the bathrooms get cleaned the bacteria is washed away. The accumulated bacteria are not healthy for the residents of Peabody Hall and our experiment will make the residents aware of the bacteria level. Once we have the residents aware of the bacteria level the residents can do what they wish with the information.

Also, learning more about bacteria in the bathrooms will help each of us better to clean our own bathrooms later on in life. We will know the locations in the bathroom that bacteria grow the best. Our family will be healthier because there would be a lower level of bacteria. Everyone in a house has to use the bathroom and if it is bacteria free there will be less chance of sickness. With less chance of sickness come more smiley faces in the household.

This research is interesting bcause we will be learning about the bacteria that we come in contact with every day. This topic concerns everyone. Bacteria are a threat to health, and if we find the levels are too high people will be interested in knowing. Health is a large concern this day in age and anything we can do to promote healthier environments is beneficial.

Relevance of the Research Question
A number of studies relating to the sanitation of bathrooms have already been
executed. No doubt it has been a major concern to other scientists in the past. It is necessary to do background research in order to become oriented with the relevance of the study we are performing, what new issues we can address, and how we can use existing information to support our own.

In 2000, Baker and Bloomfield studied the presence of Salmonella in domestic bathrooms. Despite the fact that Salmonella is usually contracted by consumption of contaminated food, this study shows that the bacteria commonly spreads by air and physical contact in 4 out of 6 households. It is difficult to remove the bacteria with common household cleaners. This is because it can get embedded into the biofilm on the underside of the toilet bowl and just below the water level (Barker and Bloomfield, 2000). In fact, according to one study, use of ammonia-based detergent promoted the growth of bacteria colonies. This is because of the nitrogen contained in these products. In addition, because the detergent being used becomes contaminated, it spreads the bacteria to new surfaces as the individual continues to ÒcleanÓ other areas (Dharan et. al. , 1999).

The levels of bacteria in cold water and hot water were compared in another study. The cold water contained a higher amount of mesophilic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, one might think that where hot water is used it will contain a smaller amount of bacteria than other parts of the bathroom. However, the decrease in the hot water temperatures coming from a showerhead and the cooling of the standing water could promote increase of microbial organisms (Zacheus & Martikainen, 1995).

Everyone expects that there is bacteria growth on bathroom surfaces. However, the magnitude of bacteria found in bathrooms, used so frequently and by as many people that live in Peabody Hall, will be alarming. Even though our immune systems can resist these common bacteria, such high exposure could pose a threat to the health of the students here. One common bacterium is Streptococcus pyogenes and is found in the throats of healthy people. This bacterium can be transmitted by air or saliva. However, it can cause diseases such as pharyngitis, impetigo, meningitis, and toxic shock syndrome (Wilson, Mc Nab, Henderson, 2002). Staphylococcus, E. coli, and many other normal microflora can be spread among the students potentially causing major problems.

It is extremely difficult to create an environment completely hostile to all bacteria in order to prevent our infection. Bacteria can evolve and adapt. They can live and grow under a wider range of oxygen levels (Gillies and Dodds, 1976). Nevertheless, it is important to eliminate as much of the pathogenic bacteria as possible by using careful cleaning procedures. When a certain bacteria evolves into an extremely dangerous form or there is an infection that spreads among students grouped in such close quarters - sharing the same fountains, the same toilets, and the same showers Ð the entire community can be infected. This project will make other people aware of the real possible threat of using community restrooms and showers. Even if the presence of harmful bacteria cannot be eradicated, students can take precautions to protect themselves from infection on their own.

Methods and Materials
The materials we need for our experiment include: cotton swabs, forty-eight Petri dishes with Agar, microscopes for analysis of bacteria samples, labels for Petri dishes, a scale, notebook and pencils of recording.

Prior to our collection of data, we will prepare the Petri dishes filled with Agar. Agar is prepared from Bacto-Agar. It will be mixed into a 1% solution with distilled water. The solution will be clear, once boiled. Next, we will take the Agar solution off of the heat and allow it to cool for a few minutes to thicken. We will then pour the thickened solution into clean Petri dishes.

We will be taking samples of bacteria with a cotton swab from six given locations in each bathroom tested. We will be taking the samples from, the entrance door handle, stall door handle, the urinal, the toilet seat, the shower floors, and the faucet handles. For each of these locations we will take two samples. To take these samples we will scratch the surface with a sterilized needle. Immediately after we will slightly open the Petri dish in order to slide the needles quickly across the Agar surface. Then we will securely close the Petri dish and label it for later observation. Once we close the Petri dish, we will sterilize the needle by taking the open flame to it. Once the needle is sterilized we will then repeat these steps to obtain the rest of the samples. Once all of the samples are collected we will return them to the science building to maintain a stable environment for which our bacteria to grow. Every Monday and Thursday after we will return to the samples to make observations about bacteria its growth and composition.

To measure the bacteria in our samples we will, determine the the texture of the area covered in the Petri dish and the mass of the Petri dish. In order to help us determine which type of bacteria are present we will also document the color of the growth in the Petri dish.
Our experiment is statistically sound because we are using universal measurements to count determinable amounts. Our data will be collected using the metric system and carried out in a manner that only one person will be determining the color, one person determining the weight of bacteria in the Petri-dish, and one person determining the texture, to ensure no difference in data collection. Our experiment is also statistically sound because our collection and measurement methods are consistent throughout the entire experiment. Advice to make our research more substantial came from our teaching assistants who pushed us to think of how we would accurately measure the amount of bacteria.

There are many specific procedures that need to occur to ensure our accuracy of results. Specifically, we determined that we must only slightly open the Petri dish to swab the Agar with the needle. This must be done to ensure no other contamination occurs within the Petri dish from outside elements. Also, we determined that the needle must be sterilized each and every time we take a sample. Lastly, during the observation process we decided that only one person could be accountable for each variable so human error is minimized. We realized different people make different observations so we eliminated this potential problem from our lab.

Although we will be using our best judgement when collecting and observing our data human error will always be present. Due to human limitations of observation we will not be able to avoid an unbiased result. Our experiment will biased but only indirectly through human error. In order to keep these unbiased results to a minimum we designed certain tasks for each person in the group to do.

Instead of having the class collect the physical data, we will have them observe the grown bacteria under the microscope in order to help us identify the specific bacteria present. Our data collection would be thrown off if it were given to a large group of people to observe, due to inconsistency. We hope with other groups trusting us to collect their data, they will in return, provide accurate results for our lab. We will demonstrate specifically how to collect the data, which will again minimize inconsistency.

In our study, the class will be using the microscopes in order to help identify specific bacteria growths. We will assign 12 Petri dishes to each group of three or four students with one of our lab members assisting. We will provide photocopies and examples of what they are looking for. This will eliminate confusion on the behalf of the observer and allow us to maintain a constant data collection. Using the class for this part of the experiment will allow for mass data collection within a shorter amount of time, while ensuring accuracy. The class will only have to input the type of bacteria found in their Petri dishes to the StatView program on the computer during class.

On Sunday, November 3rd, we will go into the bathrooms and collect our bacteria samples for each Petri dish. We will then observe our samples each Monday and Thursday for the next three weeks. On November 21st, we will come before class for our final observations. Once class begins we will proceed to lead the class in the microscope investigation of the bacteria types in the Petri dishes. Before the end of class, our data collection will be complete. On December 4th we will post our final lab report. This will include our introduction, all of our observations and our data tables.
DATA
COLLECTION TABLE
Sample # Gender of Bathroom Location in Bathroom Irregularities
1
2
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5
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33
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40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48

Total 0

OBSERVATION TABLE
sample # Nov. 4 Nov. 7 Nov. 11 Nov. 14 Nov. 18 Nov. 21
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BACTERIA TYPE
Sample # Bacteria Type
1
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6
7
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17
18
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Total 0

FINAL RESULTS TABLE
Sample # Gender of Bathroom Location in Bathroom Change in mass Texture Color Type of Bacteria
1
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5
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7
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47
48
Works Cited

Wilson, Michael, Mc Nab, Rob, and Henderson, Brian. Bacterial
Disease Mechanisms. Cambridge: University Press, 2002.

Gillies, R.R. and Dodds, T.C. Bacteriology
Illustrated. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1976

Dharan, S., Mourouga, P., Copin, P., Bessmer, G., Tschanz, B., and
Pittet, D. “Routine disinfection of patients’ environmental surfaces.
Myth or reality?” Journal of Hospital Infection 42:2
(1999): 113-117.

Zacheus, O.M. and Martikainen, P.J. “Occurrence of heterotrophic
bacteria and fungi in cold and hot water distribution systems using
water of different quality.” Canadian Journal of
Microbiology 41:12 (1995): 1088-1094.

Barker, J. and Bloomfield, S.F. “Survival of Salmonella in bathrooms
and toilets in domestic homes following salmonellosis.”
Journal of Applied Microbiology 89:1 (2000): 137-144.

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