The dirtiest places in your office may be a surprise

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) -

You go get a cup of coffee at work. But instead of your morning Joe, are you actually getting your morning germs?

"Yeah there is always a lot of places that people touch every day and they don't even think about it," said UAB virologist Dr. Sunnie Thompson.

Germs are everywhere in your work place. Places like light switches, water fountains, even your own desk can all be hot spots for bacteria.

So how does it make if from those items to your body?

"Basically the way germs travel is through your hands, through commonly touched items in the office," said Thompson.

University of Arizona researchers recently conducted a study where they took a virus not harmful to humans and placed it on the door of an office building with about 80 employees.

Within only two hours the virus spread to places like the coffee pot, microwave button, and refrigerator handle; even individual offices and cubicles showed signs of contamination.

"You go and you grab a cup of coffee, and then you go back to your keyboard. And without washing your hands, you're of course bringing any germs you got on the way to get your coffee and then on the way back to your keyboard," said Thompson.

That's just one example of how germs can travel. However, Thompson says you do have an easy way to fight back.

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The dirtiest places in your office may be a surprise