Closing the lavatory lid prior to flushing could help protect against the norovirus, which is also known as the winter vomiting bug, found experts. Flushing with the lid open may set free a cloud of bacteria to explode into the air and settle on nearby surfaces.
This increases the risk of virus such as winter vomiting bug to spread from person to person. Professor Mark Wilcox, Clinical Director of Microbiology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and colleagues conducted study to see how a toilet lid could affect the spread of disease, particularly in hospitals.
The team used a sterilised toilet cubicle and generated diarrhoea effect in the bowl, with the help of stool samples which had been contaminated with the hospital superbug C. difficile. The study showed that Superbug C. diff was transported up to ten inches above the toilet seat once it was open and still diminished rate was found in the air ninety minutes later.
Though superbug C diff did travel through the gap when the lid was down it was found in far lower concentrations in the air. While the lavatory lid was closed no C. difficile was recovered on any surface, but when it was open it was found on the boiler, to the right and left of the toilet seat and on the floor.
Although it was improbable that keeping the lid up would be a gigantic health risk, the study findings suggested that patients with a superbug should at least have a dedicated toilet. It would be sensible if there is a lid to put it down after flushing, stated Professor Wilcox
A lid contains smells and droplets which can become aerolised. Some bugs spread more easily to surfaces in this fashion and the norovirus are thought to be one of them. They advise to put down the lid if it is there and one should wash hands afterwards, concluded Professor Wilcox.
Many hospital toilets do not have lids, paradoxically in an attempt to stop cross-contamination from handling a lid. This study also had wider insinuations.