TV remotes in hotel rooms bad for bacteria

TV REMOTE controls and bedside lamp switches are the most germ-ridden hotel room objects, according to new research.

An experiment of surfaces in hotel rooms found remotes were the most heavily contaminated, while sponges and bedsheets on maid trolleys carry the potential to cross-contaminate rooms.

If hotel fixtures laced with germs come into contact with people prone to infection and low immune systems, the consequences could prove fatal.

Researchers sampled a variety of surfaces from hotel rooms in Texas, Indiana and South Carolina – testing the levels of aerobic bacteria and coliform, or faecal, bacteria on each object.

Some of the most contaminated samples were the toilet and bathroom sink – but high levels were found on the TV remote and bedside lamp switch.

Also, some of the most germ-laden samples were found on sponges and mops on the cleaners’ trolleys – posing a high risk of cross-contamination. Surfaces with the lowest germ count included the headboard on the bed.

Although the researchers do not know if the bacteria can cause disease, they believe the levels are an indicator of overall cleanliness in hotel rooms.

The findings are due to be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.