The Korea Consumer Protection Board tested the bacteria content of six items commonly handled by large numbers of people.

Shopping Cart Handles and Computer Mice

Shopping cart handles were the worst, containing 1,100 units of colony-forming units of bacteria for every one and a half square inches. Other measured items included:

A computer mouse used at an Internet cafe: 690 units

Hand straps on a bus: 380 units

Bathroom door handles: 340 units

Elevator buttons: 130 units

Hand straps on subways: 86 units

Shopping cart handles had more because their larger area gives people more places to put their hands.

Wash With Soap and Water

The report added that washing your hands with soap removes almost all traces of bacteria.

The Age.com.au February 15, 2006Science a Go Go February 15, 2006MSNBC February 14, 2006

Dr. Mercola's Comment:Some of the most common sources of viral infections you come in contact with daily hide on commonly used itemssuch as:

Shopping cart handles

Bus rails or arm rests

Escalator handrails

Customer-shared pens

Vending machine knobs

Public telephones

Elevator buttons

Grocery store freezer handles

As in many things involving optimal health, the simple things -- washing your hands with plain soap and water, cleaning those handles on your shopping cart or wearing gloves -- are often the best means to protect your health.

Unfortunately, in reaction to bacterial studies like this one, more places than ever, particularly stores that sell food, offer free antibacterial wipes that contain agents like triclosan that kill human cells as well as bacteria.

Even worse, a growing number of experts believe the increased use of such products may lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

That said, I am not a big fan of blaming bacteria for illness, as it is your impaired immune system that allows you to get sick. Immune system impairment typically results from not enough sleep, uncompensated emotional stress, not enough sunlight or exercise or eating sugar or too many grains.

However, clearly bacteria and viruses can and do cause illness when your immune system is impaired, and it most likely makes sense to reduce obvious exposures.

If you use a community keyboard, mouse or trackball, consider cleaning it regularly with peroxide wipes prior to using it. You could also use isopropyl alcohol, but I would advise against it as it is far more toxic to your tissue than peroxide -- and it is no more effective in killing these germs.

I urge you to review an article I ran three years ago on infected keyboards too.