London (PTI): You may have no other option than to use shared computers in your office or at an Internet cafe, but a new study has revealed that these terminals are breeding grounds for germs.

Researchers have found that shared computers are hot beds for bacteria and hot-desking in the office can even cause workers to become ill -- in fact, shared keyboards may contain five times the number of microorganisms as those used by one.

Lead author Enzo Palombo was quoted by leading British newspaper The Daily Telegraph as saying: "High use, multiple user Internet cafes and computer labs are potential hot spots for harbouring microorganisms."

The researchers have based their findings after an analysis on computers -- in tests, almost half of keyboards harboured the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus which, although usually harmless when it is on the skin, can lead to serious infections if it enters the body. Swabs showed it was present on only one-fifth of single-use keyboards, they said.

The researchers warn that the risk of infection was high if the equipment was not thoroughly cleaned. Given that computers are not routinely disinfected, the potential for transmitting disease is great.

"Organisations need to be more rigorous in keeping shared equipment clean. Keyboards and other hand contact areas such as a computer mouse should be regularly cleaned and disinfected, especially for multiple-user workstations," Prof Palombo of Swinburne University of Technology said.

The study has been published in the American Journal of Infection Control.