Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 150

graduate students, 43 were staff, four were undergraduate
students, and five were "other." Three participants answered
that they were not affiliated with the University of Arkansas.
It was also noted whether or not the participant had a
protective case and/or a screen cover on their TMD. Of 100
participants, 82 had a protective case, and 28 had a screen
cover. When asked about their TMD usage frequency,
85% of participants indicated that they check their TMD
at least once an hour, and 35% stated that they check their
TMD more than three times per hour. Participants were
also asked several questions about their perceptions of
cleaning practices for single-user TMDs and the perceived
contamination risks associated with single-user TMDs
within food service establishments. Table 1 indicates
that, based on a mean response of > 4, most participants
believe that (i) TMDs can harbor harmful microorganisms;
(ii) food service workers should clean their TMD; and
(iii) using a TMD while working with food is a potential
health risk. Conversely, participants were not completely
convinced that requiring food service employees to clean
their TMD would reduce potential transmission of harmful
pathogens, with a mean response of 3.78 (Table 1).
Characterization of bacteria on TMDs
The results from the bacteria recovery revealed that
every TMD was contaminated with bacteria, with a greater
prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria than of Gramnegative bacteria. Most of the colonies tested were Grampositive and were reduced by both cleaning interventions.
Gram-positive bacteria represented 94.5% of bacteria on
both side A and B of the TMDs; this is likely due to the
Gram-positive nature of the human epidermis microbiota
(16). The baseline bacterial concentration on Side A was
0.76 log10 (CFU/cm2+1), with no significant difference
between the treatment groups (P = 0.183). A comparison

of the bacterial concentration on the TMDs revealed a
statistically significant difference (P < 0.0001) between
bacterial concentrations on Side A and Side B regardless of
the treatment type, at 0.76 and 0.43 log10 (CFU/cm2+1)
difference, respectively (Fig. 2). There was no difference (P
= 0.644) in bacterial concentrations on Side B by treatment
type. Moreover, there was no significant difference (P =
0.132) in mean log reductions between treatment groups,
with 0.28 and 0.38 log10 (CFU/cm2+1) for dry microfiber
cloths and IA wipes, respectively.
Microbial concentration and TMD use
A comparison of the participant's role at the University
of Arkansas with the log10 (CFU/cm2+1) bacteria on
their TMDs revealed that there was no statistically
significant difference in bacterial concentrations among
the roles. There was also no statistically significant
difference in bacterial concentrations among frequency
of use categories. Participants were also asked about
their TMD cleaning habits; there was no statistically
significant difference between bacterial concentrations
and self-reported frequency of cleaning (Table 2). Various
cleaning methods for TMDs were reported, including
tissues, moist cloths, "my shirt," and lens cleaning wipes.
Most participants (n = 82) had a protective case on
their TMD, and a smaller number (n = 28) had a screen
cover. Comparing the mean log10 reductions revealed no
significant difference in log10 reduction by treatment with
respect to the presence or absence of a protective case or
screen cover (data not shown).
DISCUSSION
Microbial contamination of TMDs has been reported
previously, such as in a study by Egert et al. in which a
similar population was investigated (5). Specifically, the

TABLE 1. Responses to survey questions on TMD cleaning and health risks in general and
in retail food service establishments
Survey Question

5-point Likert Scalea
Mean Response (± SD)

Is it important for food service employees to regularly clean their TMD?

4.39 (0.82)

Are there health risks associated with using TMDs while working with food?

4.23 (0.93)

Can TMDs become contaminated with harmful germs that can make you sick?

4.36 (0.72)

If there were requirements for food service employees to clean TMDs, would the
potential for transmission of harmful germs via contaminated TMDs decrease?

3.78 (0.89)

definitely not = 1, probably not = 2, might or might not = 3, probably yes = 4, definitely yes = 5
SD = standard deviation.
a

150

Food Protection Trends May/June



Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020

An Assessment of Produce Growers’ Sanitizer Knowledge and Practices on the Correct Use of Sanitizers
Prevalence and Control of Bacteria on Single-user Touchscreen Mobile Devices
Food Safety in School Foodservice Operations: A Review of Health Inspections in the State of Missouri
Engaging Undergraduate Students in Food Safety Study and Food Microbiology Research
Beyond the Bio
PDG Highlight
General Interest Paper
Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Cover1
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Cover2
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 133
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 134
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 135
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 136
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 137
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 138
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 139
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - An Assessment of Produce Growers’ Sanitizer Knowledge and Practices on the Correct Use of Sanitizers
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 141
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 142
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 143
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 144
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 145
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 146
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Prevalence and Control of Bacteria on Single-user Touchscreen Mobile Devices
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 148
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 149
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 150
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 151
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 152
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 153
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Food Safety in School Foodservice Operations: A Review of Health Inspections in the State of Missouri
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 155
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 156
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 157
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 158
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 159
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 160
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 161
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 162
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 163
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Engaging Undergraduate Students in Food Safety Study and Food Microbiology Research
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 165
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 166
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 167
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 168
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 169
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 170
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 171
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Beyond the Bio
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 173
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 174
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - PDG Highlight
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 176
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 177
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 178
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 179
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 180
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 181
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 182
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 183
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 184
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 185
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 186
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 187
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 188
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 189
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 190
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 191
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 192
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 193
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 194
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 195
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 196
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 197
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 198
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 199
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 200
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 201
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 202
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 203
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - General Interest Paper
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 205
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 206
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 207
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 208
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 209
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 210
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 211
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 212
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 213
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 214
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - 215
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Coming Events
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Cover3
Food Protection Trends - May/June 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20240304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/trilix/fpt_200807
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com