STORRS, CONNECTICUT — Colonies of fecal bacteria have been found in air from restroom hand dryers, according to new research.<br /><br />The University of Connecticut study found bacteria blasted from hand dryers in 36 bathrooms within the institution's School of Medicine building. <br /><br />The research, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, found traces of the harmless lab-made PS533 and Staphylococcus aureus. The latter is associated with infections. The study's lead author told Newsweek the PS533 bacteria traveled from a lab through the air.<br /><br />Researchers also applied their test to restroom hand dryers with HEPA filters, but found that 25 percent of bacteria were still present.
