Beware! Somebody’s already in your hotel room

Do you realise, in the cozy comfort of your hotel room, there’s an insidious killer waiting for you? So think twice before you plan a relaxing weekend at some exotic location. Hotel rooms may not be that comforting as they appear, but may be dwelling grounds for harmful infections.

A new study reveals, the invisible little germs and viruses left behind in hotel rooms by previous occupants might prove harmful for the new guest.

For the study the researchers at the University of Virginia, took up 15 volunteers, infected with rhinoviruses, the causative agent of the common cold and offered them a one night hotel stay. The germ testing was performed in rooms once the occupants checked out.

Microscopic examination showed that the infectious minute creatures were found everywhere: on light switches, TV and AC remote, telephone, menu card, bathroom, etc.

In most cases, the rhinovirus contaminated around 35% of the sources. Ten out of fifteen hotel rooms checked revealed the rhinovirus contamination ranging from 0-80%.

Researcher J. Owen Hendley, MD, University of Virginia Health System after inspecting a room said, “To my surprise, in a hotel room occupied overnight by an adult with a cold, everything from television remote controls, telephones, light switches, and faucets were contaminated with cold viruses”.

Signs of infection showed in hotel rooms on commonly used articles even after 18 hours of first contact. Thus, as one leaves the infection behind, the germs gear up waiting for their new victim.

Being contagious in nature, the rhinovirus infection spreads easily. Researchers state that though direct contact with infected person raises chances of getting infected manifold, transmission through surface was also important. Having a life of about one day, the infection remains available for transmission through surface.

Though meticulous cleaning reduces the chances of infection in hotel rooms, but they cannot be entirely wiped off because of their microscopic size.