Researchers used high-throughput genetic sequencing to detect bacteria on 10 different surfaces in 12 men's and women's bathrooms on a college campus. Those surfaces included door, toilet and faucet handles, soap dispensers, toilet seats and various areas of the floor. The sequencing process used allows scientists to create up to millions of sequences at the same time.
Nineteen bacterial phyla were identified. Most belonged to four phyla: Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Scientists were able to get an average of 3,340 gene sequences per sample.
