Wilcox et al were working in a hospital setting and just found that the air bacterial counts were higher around hand dryers than around paper towel dispensers, which doesn’t establish whether the hand dryers are actually a source of bacteria. A more recent meta-analysis found mixed outcomes. So both the sign and the graffito need to revise and resubmit, ideally with a more comprehensive survey of the published literature.
I think it might be nice as a guideline, but I don’t think it’s necessary to make it mandatory. I just thought it’d be funny to highlight the scholarly bathroom germ debate.
![[Evidence Inconclusive] Germ Blaster](https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/aa903409-5673-47a1-a32e-db6cf31e13b9.png){kind=link}
Wilcox et al were working in a hospital setting and just found that the air bacterial counts were higher around hand dryers than around paper towel dispensers, which doesn’t establish whether the hand dryers are actually a source of bacteria. A more recent meta-analysis found mixed outcomes. So both the sign and the graffito need to revise and resubmit, ideally with a more comprehensive survey of the published literature.
Inconclusive evidence tag?
Teach the controversy via whiteboard marker on the bathroom mirrors!
Done. :) Do you all think it should be a new rule to tag debunked or inconclusive evidence?
I think it might be nice as a guideline, but I don’t think it’s necessary to make it mandatory. I just thought it’d be funny to highlight the scholarly bathroom germ debate.