Expert: Walter Hintz - 3/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Good afternoon.   I am doing a study on telephone headsets and whether or not potentially harmful bacteria can thrive in foam and leatherette ear cushions and foam microphone covers.  Would you know what types of bacteria would be interested in this sort of environment and also whether it survives long enough to be transmitted from headset user to user?
Thank you so much!!
Daniella

ANSWER: I am sure that there are many bacteria found on anything that goes over someone's ears. They are most likely harmless skin bacteria. I have never tested this myself but science is a discovery process so why not design an experiment yourself to test this

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your advise.  I am actually in the process of testing bacteria from headsets.
With your knowledge, would bacteria in the foam microphone cover be more harmful than skin cells due to saliva and respiratory actions?   If someone had TB for arguments sake and shared the headset with someone else, would the seccond user be more prone to contracting TB?

Answer
Hi Daniella
Harmful bacteria from secretions are more likely then from skin bacteria although staph is often found on skin and could enter through a break in the skin. TB does not last long outside the body and is spread be aerosols. I think someone would have to cough on the headset