NEW YORK — A new study suggests that the common soap dispenser might not be as clean as one might expect, according to Discovery.com.

The study found that nearly every soap dispenser tested at an Ohio elementary school was contaminated with illness-causing bacteria, the article stated.

According to the article, when the students washed their hands, the microbe count actually went up rather than down, as handwashing is expected to do.

What isn't clear is how much of a health risk this bacteria-laden soap poses to users; heath experts still stress the importance of proper hand hygiene, the article noted.

"This is kind of counterintuitive because soap is supposed to clean you, but the new study showed that soap can be a source of bacteria that can spread beyond the person washing his or her hands," said Carrie Zapka, a microbiologist at GOJO Industries Inc., a company that makes skin health and hygiene products, including soaps and sanitizers.

"There's no need to panic. I want people to wash their hands because handwashing is proven to be effective at preventing sickness. We don't know what the true risk level is in the community," Zapka added.

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