PETRI PAL
Combating the lack of awareness regarding unsanitary devices at schools in hopes of preventing the spread of diseases from surface living bacteria.
Our Research
For this portion of our campaign we did the following:
Conducted an independent lab experiment using out of pocket purchased materials and the schools equipment (in hopes of getting data specific to our technology based school)
Found best types of cleaner and disinfectants for different bacteria and surfaces
Researched proper hygiene / cleaning practices
Scroll through for pictures, fun facts, procedures, and need-to-knows to stay safe!
Our Experiment:
We wanted to see how many CFUs (Colony Forming Units) would grow in agar petri dishes after being exposed to swabs of various technological items at our school.
The items we swabbed:
Communal computer mouse
Communal keyboard
Student's personal laptop keyboard and screen
Student's personal cell phones
Communal VR headsets
Student's personal wireless earbuds
To maximize accuracy, we swabbed each dirty item twice before cleaning (Labeled "D1" and "D2" for dirty), then cleaned each item with Lysol wipes (The cleaner distributed at our school) and labeled the clean trials as "C".
This produced 18 total petri dishes total. The samples were stored at the school biology lab over the weekend to culture. A sample of our results are described below:
From left to right- C, D1, D2
Communal Computer Mouse
Since the bacterial growth was consistent, we assume that the classroom disinfectant was successful in preventing growth for this type of bacteria.
From left to right- C, D1, D2
Communal Keyboard
Results showed that bacterial growth did not change after the keyboard was cleaned with a Lysol wipe (the recommended disinfectant within this school setting). This suggests that the current disinfectant methods are ineffective against the bacteria that lives within the school.
From left to right- C, D1, D2
Student's Personal Laptop
This had the highest bacteria growth out of every piece of tech we tested. Students rarely clean their laptops, as it is neither suggested nor mandated by the school.
From left to right- C, D1, D2
Student's Personal Cell Phone
While this test did not exhibit as much bacterial growth, it did show a different growth unlike any other trial. Since the three trials are so similar, along with the fact that the growth is so different, we hypothesis that this is a different type of bacteria which requires a different type of disinfectant.
From left to right- C, D1, D2
Communal VR Headset
Unlike the Keyboard test, the VR Headset test demonstrates that Lysol was effective in disinfecting. We know this because bacteria growth was heavily inhibited after cleaning (see VR petri dish "C").We hypothesize that the lack of change in bacteria growth after cleaning the headset could be due to different electronic devices having different interactions with the body.
Different bacteria inhabit the mucosal membranes (the inside of your nasal cavity) compared to the flora of the skin on your fingers.
Since the VR Headset is coming into contact with your face more than your hands, that could be the explanation to differing results.
From left to right- C, D1, D2
Student's Personal Wireless Earbuds
This trial clearly shows a decline in the amount of bacteria grown after they were disinfected.
Disinfectants VS Cleaners
Many people combine the two terms into the same thing, when in reality both are very different. Do you know the difference?Disinfectants are specifically designed to kill germs and bacteria, whereas cleaners are formulated to remove dirt and impurities.
Understanding the difference is crucial for ensuring effective sanitation practices, especially in environments where preventing the spread of infections is vital, such as hospitals, food preparation areas, or schools.
Disinfectants
Chlorine Bleach
Hydrogen Peroxide
Alcohol
Cleaners
Dish soap
Vinegar
Windex
Wet wipes
Multi-purpose cleaning sprays
To fully clean something, it's recommended to use some sort of cleaner first, and then disinfectant afterward. Only using a cleaner is akin to cleaning surgical equipment with only soap, which will not remove all the harmful bacteria.Overusing or solely relying on disinfectant could potentially damage a product or surface, and it could also be wasteful and pose safety concerns of its own. (Newsflash: Using only bleach to clean the dishes isn't effective.)It's crucial to know the difference and apply that knowledge wisely!
Chlorine Bleach
Liquid hypochlorite, sodium hypochlorite concentration is used in household bleach
Hypochlorite retains chlorine longer and has a prolonged bacteria preventing effect
Sodium hypochlorite is the agent inside of household bleach that is damaging, so its important to be cautious
Hydrogen Peroxide
Actively works against a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, fungi, viruses, and spores
Sterilizes in 30 minutes and high-level disinfection in 5 minutes
Kills E. coli, Streptococcus species, and Pseudomonas species especially well
Alcohol
Common place alcohol is a mixture of ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol
Does not kill all spores, but does lengthen the time it takes for the bacteria to begin replicating
Can help prevent the spread of Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
The Problem
Microbial standards in hygiene are necessary for a healthy life. People often believe that microbes/dangerous bacteria are only present in research labs or hospitals- which can lead to poor hygiene practices and the mass spread of germs.Children's technology is increasingly harboring more harmful bacteria. Public schools are one of the biggest incubators for surface level bacteria; hundreds to thousands of students in a small area, touching the same chairs, computers, devices dozens of times daily. How do we inform parents, schools, and children alike about the harmful nature of this bacteria and how to properly clean it?Petri Pal is an educational product that enables children to visually see bacteria growth, making a theoretical concept experimentally visible and concrete. Seeing something with your own eyes is a very powerful learning experience for both children and adults. Following up this experiment with good hygiene, handwashing, and disinfecting practices will be extremely beneficial, and ensure a comprehensive understanding of health maintenance, leading to a healthier envirmoment for all.
The Team
This project was done for a Phoenix Coding Academy IDL (Interdisiplinary Learning) Finale. Learn more about our highschool here!
PCA has had no involvement with the content of this site
Our Product
PetriPal provides a purchasable DIY at home petri dish kit to help children (and anyone else interested!) grasp the idea of surface bacteria growth using hands on, inquiry based, science experiments they can do in their own home.
$5.00 + ShippingSuitable for ages 11+
*Adult supervision required at all times for 17 and underWhat's included in the kit:
A pre-filled sterile petri dish with agar
Disinfecting alcohol wipes
Cotton swabs
Sealing tape
Gloves
Disposable bag
Thorough step-by-step instruction sheet
*Primarily, awareness and audience reach is PetriPals main focus, so keeping our kits inexpenisve is a priority.
Online Step-By-Step Resource (included in kit):
