Ecological succession and viability of human-associated microbiota on restroom surfaces.

ABSTRACT: Human-associated bacteria dominate the built environment (BE). Following decontamination of floors, toilet seats, and soap dispensers in four public restrooms, in situ bacterial communities were characterized hourly, daily, and weekly to determine their successional ecology. The viability of cultivable bacteria, following the removal of dispersal agents (humans), was also assessed hourly. A late-successional community developed within 5 to 8 h on restroom floors and showed remarkable stability over weeks to months. Despite late-successional dominance by skin- and outdoor-associated bacteria, the most ubiquitous organisms were predominantly gut-associated taxa, which persisted following exclusion of humans. Staphylococcus represented the majority of the cultivable community, even after seve

SUBMITTER: Gibbons SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4277569 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature