Hands-Free Faucets Have More Bacteria

If you enjoy the illusion of a germ-free bathroom experience, we have bad news; Researchers have found that hands-free faucets are more likely to be contaminated with the bacteria Legionella, which can cause pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems. Johns Hopkins Hospital removed the devices after finding that half of the samples from electronic faucets contained the bacteria, compared to only 15% in samples from regular faucets. While hands-free faucets are beloved by germophobes, they actually contain more complex valves for bacteria to grow on.

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