Scientists are now saying that air hand dryers should be banned from hospital bathrooms because they blow bacteria around the room.

A team of researchers at the University of Leeds found that using paper towels significantly reduces the risk of germs being spread between sick patients. Their research ended up finding high levels of dangerous bacteria that cause blood poisoning, pneumonia and gastroenteritis when dryers were used.

“The problem starts because some people do not wash their hands properly,” said study leader Professor Mark Wilcox, an expert in medical microbiology at Leeds. “When people use a jet-air dryer, the microbes get blown off and spread around the toilet room. In effect, the dryer creates an aerosol that contaminates the toilet room, including the dryer itself and potentially the sinks, floor and other surfaces, depending on the dryer design and where it is sited.”

“If people touch those surfaces, they risk becoming contaminated by bacteria or viruses,” he added. “Jet-air dryers often rely on no-touch technology to initiate hand drying. However, paper towels absorb the water and microbes left on the hands and if they are disposed of properly, there is less potential for cross-contamination.”

Wilcox and his team found five times more bacteria when air dryers were in use compared to paper towels, and significantly more in the air, dust and surfaces of the room.

“We found multiple examples of greater bacterial contamination on surfaces, including by faecal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, when jet-air dryers rather than paper towels were in use,” Wilcox explained. “Choice of hand-drying method affects how likely microbes can spread, and so possibly the risk of infection.”

Who knew that air dryers could be so harmful?! What are your thoughts?