A new study from the University of Helsinki suggests that treating wood surfaces can significantly influence how bacteria survive and spread. The research examined bacterial adhesion, survival, and transmission on both untreated and treated wood surfaces under laboratory and real-life conditions.The study focused on two bacterial species: Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common skin bacterium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a pathogen known to cause infections, especially in vulnerable individuals. According to doctoral researcher Elina Kettunen, untreated wood surfaces tended to host more bacteria and a greater variety of species, while treated surfaces showed lower bacterial numbers and diversity.Laboratory experiments demonstrated that S. epidermidis survived better on untreated wood, while field experiments in public spaces confirmed that untreated surfaces supported more diverse microbial communities. These findings indicate that natural wood properties and environmental conditions influence microbial behavior on surfaces.The researchers note that material choice and surface treatment could play an important role in hygiene management in homes, public buildings, and furniture. Tuula Jyske, Associate Professor of Wood Material Science, highlighted that these insights may eventually help develop more hygienic—or even “probiotic”—wood materials that promote beneficial microbes while limiting harmful bacteria.Although further research is needed, the study provides practical evidence that construction materials and surface treatments can affect indoor microbiota and health outcomes.
Source:University of Helsinki
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