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First order, then wash your hands: quantification and identification of bacteria on self-ordering touchscreens in fast food restaurants at times of high and low occupancy

Crossref DOI link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-026-07704-x

Published Online: 2026-02-09

Update policy: https://doi.org/10.1007/springer_crossmark_policy

Authors

Schwendenmann, Nadja https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6907-2902
Fritz, Selina https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0465-1424
Egert, Markus https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2402-3322
Funding

Funding for this research was provided by:

Hochschule Furtwangen
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Text and Data Mining valid from 2026-02-09

Version of Record valid from 2026-02-26
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Article History

Received: 9 October 2025

Accepted: 5 February 2026

First Online: 9 February 2026

Declarations

:

: No human beings or human samples, but only inanimate touchscreen surfaces in freely accessible restaurants were sampled. Samples were taken in the greater area of Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, i.e., within a radius of 50 km around the city. In this area, several restaurants of different operator types are located. In addition, the sampled restaurants were blinded and cannot be identified. Simple permission to take samples was obtained orally by the local staff before each sampling, provided that all data remains anonymous. Therefore, we believe that the study was performed in an ethically correct manner.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.

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