Travelers have been advised to practice proper hygiene during travels after authorities warned about the presence of superbugs in airport toilets.

A new finding revealed that the life-threatening superbug, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSa), can infect humans through toilet doors and other airport spots. Once acquired, individuals can spread the microbe to different parts of the globe.

The study headed by Frieder Schaumburg from the University Hospital Munster examined 400 door handles from 136 airports in 59 nations. These samples tested positive for MRSa. Further, they discovered the presence of bacteria that are common in fecal contamination. The rate of contamination was highest for a microbe, S. aureus that can cause sore throat, meningitis, and skin problems. This bacteria is highest in Africa followed by Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the organism is resistant to first-line drug treatment. Staphylococcus aureus is the common culprit of infections. The infection caused by the MRSa is 64 percent more fatal than the one caused by a non-resistant bacterium.

The widespread presence of resistant bacteria and THE lack of effective preventive and therapeutic antibiotic would make medical procedures like cancer chemotherapy, organ transplant, major surgical operations, and diabetes management very risky. Antibiotic resistance also make health care pricier due to longer duration of hospitalization and requirement for more intensive treatment.

The study revealing the presence of superbugs in airport toilets was published in the Clinical Microbiology and Infection medical journal.

Watch this clip explaining how dirty public restrooms can get.