Why you need to clean the toilet seat with antiseptic before using a public washroom

One of the easiest ways to contract infections, especially Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) is through frequent use of public washrooms. However, it's often unavoidable to use them when you find yourself in a difficult situation.

What can one do if you suddenly feel the urge to urinate and need to relieve yourself from an inconvenience?

According to a medical practitioner, Dr. Vanessa Mensah-Kabu, it is advisable to apply antiseptic to clean the surface of toilet seats before using them to avoid infections, particularly Urinary Tract Infections.

Speaking in an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Health Focus, she advised washing your private parts with clean water after using a public washroom to help sanitize and clean them of any germs that may have been picked up.

“The advice we would give would be to clean the surface on which you are going to pee on as much as possible just carry with you an antiseptic so that you can help sanitize or reduce that risk of getting a Urinary Tract Infection by just cleaning the area.

"And then if you can also, just use some water to wash the area after you have urinated or used the washroom. Then also, cleaning after you have used the washroom or any toilet facility,” she stated.

Dr Mensah-Kabu further raised awareness about the long-term effects of urinary tract infections and their treatment options.

She mentioned that kidney diseases and early or premature delivery in pregnant women are among the potential dangers associated with urinary tract infections.

“The main short-term complication is discomfort, having that urgency to urinate frequently. You know sometimes you are at an event or you’re at work, you’re going somewhere and every maybe 5 to 15 minutes you have to use the washroom, that is a discomfort and also the pain associated with the urinary tract infection is a complication of it.

“Long term effects, it can lead to kidney diseases and in pregnant women it can lead to early or premature delivery of their babies so these are some of the complications associated with urinary tract,” she said.

Watch the full interview below:

MAG/ ADG