What areas of the school are the dirtiest?

Is the surface dangerous to students just because it is dirty?

How can we learn about bacteria in our environment?

Can we adequately clean surfaces to protect ourselves?

How does the environment at school affect the health of the students?

Dautie:

I decided to investigate the amount of bacteria present on the IUPUI campus due to personal

experience. In the fall of 2009, my then 4 year old daughter, contracted the H1N1 virus. She

became extremely sick, requiring hospitalization and IV fluids. She was sick nearly 10 days with it. I found it fascinating and scary that a virus that we have all been immunized against can

change and cause us to become so severely ill. More than likely, she contracted from touching or

coming into contact with a common surface. Due to this, I began to wonder what kinds of

germs are covering the surfaces we touch on a daily basis here on campus.

Brittany: I chose this group because I thought the project idea was

interesting. I wanted to find out where the most germs are on campus and

how reliable a popular cleaner is when its comes to killing bacteria.

Val: I originally did not want to work with germs. I was worried about getting ill and taking those germ

home to my family. I was inspired by the teams dedication and maturity

and decided to find my niche so that I could work with a professional and

organized group.

Michelle: I have a very strong interest in germs and illness. I guess since I have become a mother I am more

cautious of our surrounding and take additional, but necessary steps to try and prevent my family from getting

ill. I thought it would be interesting to see how dirty our surroundings really are. If we can grow something that

concerns the students to scare them a little bit, then maybe they will also take the necessary steps to prevent bacteria growth - resulting in, potentially saving

a life!

Course Goals

Richness- We chose our project based on what we thought would be interesting and what we had questions about. Throughout the final project we have used the investigative process. We are continuously asking questions and are finding that there isn’t always one correct answer and many of our questions can’t be answered.

Recursion- Our project has required us to take notes and document our thoughts, questions, and details of the project. We have used the inquiry process and examined our project at the macro and micro level.

Relations- The group project has required us to work and learn together. We each did our part and helped one another.

Rigor- This project has helped us to better understand that learning is on-going; that there are always more questions to answer and more to learn.

Getting Ready to Gather Germs

Our first day as a group we brainstormed all kinds of questions about germs, our second day we prepared to get our answers.

Before we could collect our samples of germs in the environment we needed to prepare our agar petri dishes.

Preparing the AGAR

Materials: Microwave, microwaveable container, water, agar powder, plastic wrap, stir stick, 20 petri dishes, permanent marker, tape.

Procedure:

1. Place agar powder into microwaveable container and add 2.5 cups or 600ml water, stir.

2. Microwave 2 minutes, stir, and continue microwaving at 1 minute intervals and stirring until agar is completely dissolved.

3. Cover and cool 3-5 minutes.

1. Lift lid off petri dish.

2. Pour 1/8 to ¼ inch into dish.

3. Immediately replace lid and tape.

4. Allow to cool 30 min.

5. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

Plan of attack

Investigate campus locations that have an increased amount of student activity, take samples.

Bathroom stall

interior lock

Fountain Elevator buttons

Table top

Library work-station

Revolving door

JagTag condiment

table

Vending machines

Door Handle

Shoe bottom

Supplies: 20 moist swabs, 20 Ziploc baggies, 10 Clorox disinfecting wipes, permanent marker.

Locations:

Swab dirty surface with moist swab and place in labeled Ziploc bag.

Clean area and allow to dry for 30 seconds.

Swab area again with clean, moist swab and place in labeled Ziploc bag.

Remove lid from labeled petri dish and swab in 4 quadrants, immediately

replace lid and seal with tape.

What are we observing?

We are observing the characteristics of the sample.

Basically, what can we see on the macro and micro levels.

Form

Elevation

Margin (Edge)

Surface

Opacity

Color

There are 3 additional characteristics that can only be examined in a supervised laboratory setting: consistency, emulsifiability, and odor.

Form - What is the basic shape of the colony?

Chromogenesis (color) - For example, white, buff, red, purple, etc.

Surface - How does the surface of the colony appear?

Margin - What is the magnified shape of the edge of the colony?

Elevation - What is the cross sectional shape of the colony? Turn the Petri dish on end.

Opacity - For example, transparent (clear), opaque, translucent (almost clear, like looking through frosted glass), iridescent.

School of Education Women’s 1st Floor Bathroom Door Lock Inside Stall

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

School of Education Water Fountain Near Restroom on 1st Floor

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

School of Education Elevator Buttons

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

School of Social Work Common Eating Area

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

University Library 4th Floor Computer Work Station

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

University Library Revolving Door (Handle and Glass)

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

Jag Connection Condiment Area

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

School of Social Work Large Vending Area

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

School of Business Stairway Door Handle

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

The Bottom of a Group Member’s Shoe

Dirty Sample Clean Sample

Comparison of Colony Observation

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Dirty

Clean

Effectiveness of Cleaning Agent

80%

20%

Decrease in Growth After Cleaning

Decreased

Same or Increased

Decrease in Growth

60%

40%

More Than 50% Decrease in Growth

decreased growth byhalf

less than 50%decrease in growth

1 Observation Sheet for each group member

4 Petri dishes

1 hand lens for each group

member

Characteristics Sheet

Materials!!!

Activity Questions

1. Look over the handout 2. What do you observe in the

petri dishes? 3. Where were the samples

taken? What kinds of surfaces?

4. Are those areas places that you frequent?

5. What could you do to the environment to make it safer? Yourself?

6. What else do you want to know about GERMS?

Cleaner was

effective Bathroom

Elevator

Table Revolving doors

Jag Tag table

Door handle

Cleaner was

ineffective

Fountain

Library keyboard

Vending machines

Shoe

Cleaner was effective

•Bathroom

•Elevator

•Table

•Revolving doors

•Jag Tag table

•Door handle

Surfaces

•Stainless Steel

•Plastic

•Formica

•Glass

•Laminate

•Few crevices

We understand now that if the cleaner is diluted or not used as intended it will not effectively clean the surface. Now we wonder, what if we used a cleaner that was an aerosol or scrubbed the porous dirty surfaces?

Cleaner was ineffective when label wasn’t followed.

Fountain: the surface was

wet with many crevices.

Library keyboard: Many

crevices and I was afraid to get the cleaner in the electronics.

Vending machines: So

many crevices that couldn’t be reached with a wipe.

Shoe: So many crevices that

couldn’t be reached with a wipe and so dirty.

Cleaning Conclusions

Use cleaning products according to label for best results.

Avoid areas that are visibly dirty and difficult to clean thoroughly.

Interview with Dr. Anderson IUPUI Biology Department

What We Found Out!

We had hoped to answer some of our questions about the types of bacteria that are growing. Unfortunately the biology dept. does not have the resources to conclude what we have growing in our petri dishes.

Dr. Anderson was able to explain:

-we were not growing any viruses, only bacteria and fungi.

-some are always harmful to your body- like strep and meningitis.

-most bacteria are not harmful unless we are exposed to them in large amounts.

How It Affects You!

Common Infections Clorox Wipes Kill: Found on Campus: -Cold/flu - Staph infection -Strep throat - Strep throat -Meningitis - Cold/flu virus -Mono - Salmonella - E. Coli - Meningitis

Many of the bacteria and viruses can lead to other illnesses like food poisoning, pneumonia, bronchitis, and many types of infections, including fungal infections. Taking a daily vitamin can boost your immune system and help you stay healthy! Using Clorox disinfecting wipes is just one way to reduce contact with bad germs! Can you think of others?

Campus/Illness Facts

Schools are an excellent breeding ground for bacteria/diseases.

Lack of sleep during “crunch time” can bring your immune system down.

The two most Common Bacteria found on campuses are meningitis, and strep throat.

Meningitis Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, sensitivity to light, nasal congestion and a

stiff neck. Meningitis is often confused with a less serious illness such as a cold or the flu.

Strep Throat Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, red or white spots in the throat, swollen or sore

glands, fever, rash and digestive pain or discomfort.

Meningitis and Strep bacteria

What is the # 1 thing you can do to prevent the spread of these germs?

Hand Washing: It’s easy to do and it's one of the most effective ways

to prevent the spread of many types of illnesses. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one

person to another.

Did you know? Most people do not wash their hands correctly or long enough.

Start NOW!!

20 seconds should be the amount of time

for hand washing! Next time you wash your hands count and see if you pass the test! Tip: Sing the ABC song or Happy Birthday for the duration of hand washing!

1. Use plenty of

anti-bacterial soap

2. Use running water

3. Dry hands thoroughly.

Fact from CDC

If you start washing your

hands correctly for 20 seconds or more this could save up to 1 million lives

per year!

www.cdc.gov

When should you wash your hands?

preparing food

Before eating

After using the bathroom

After changing diapers

Before and after caring for someone who is sick

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After touching an animal

After touching garbage

Before and after treating a cut or wound

Use disinfectants

or cleaners on backpacks, bottom of

shoes, writing utensils,

laptops, and eating areas.

Use hand sanitizer

(containing more that

6% alcohol) if soap and water is not available.

Stay away from sick

people.

Get Vaccinated (meningitis vaccine recommended for college students)

Get plenty of rest

(8 hrs. or more per

night)

Do not share eating

utensils.

Cough and sneeze

into your elbow, not

your hands

More….. Preventative measures

Resources: Thiel, T. (1999). Streaking microbial cultures on agar plates. Science in the Real World: Microbes in Action, Retrieved from http://www.umsl.edu/~microbes/techniques.html Thiel, T. (1999). Tips for pouring and storing agar plates. Science in the Real World: Microbes in Action, Retrieved from http://www.umsl.edu/~microbes/techniques.html Liu, S. (2005). Interpreting plates. Science Buddies, Retrieved from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/MicroBio_Interpreting_Plates.shtml Clorox. Clorox disinfecting wipes. (2011, April 27). Retrieved from http://www.clorox.com/products/clorox-disinfecting-wipes/faq/ Wash your hands. (2011, April 27). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/ Biology & nature. (2011, April 27). Retrieved from http://www.sciencebobstore.com/