Study shows handbags contain more germs than average toilet flush.

CBS News (5/20) reports that according to a study by the company Initial Washroom Hygiene, women may want to wash their hands after putting them in their purse. Researchers “swabbed handbags to find the dirtiest parts,” and “twenty percent of handbags swabbed had levels of bacteria-related contamination which could potentially cross-contaminate other surfaces – and contained more germs than the average toilet flush.” Dr. Sorana Segal-Maurer, an infectious disease specialist with New York Hospital-Queens, said “that it’s highly unlikely someone would get sick from their handbag,” but “people should still take precautions to stop the spread of germs.”