A study examined samples from 33 keyboards and found a variety of bugs including E coli and S aureus, which were capable of making people ill and causing variety of skin Working from your innocent-looking computer keyboard could be as bad for your health as eating lunch sitting on the loo. A fascinating research has suggested that keyboards may harbour more bacteria than the aver age loo seat. The study examined samples from 33 keyboards and found a variety of bugs including E coli and S aureus, which were capable of making people ill and causing variety of skin infections. "[It] was increasing the risk of its user becoming ill," said James Francis, the microbiologist who carried out the research published today for Which? Computingmagazine. "Most people don't give much thought to the grime that builds up on their PC, but if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet," Sarah Kidner, the editor of the magazine, was quoted as saying by the British daily The Guardian on Thursday. The study, in which more than4,000peoplewereques tioned, found that 22% cleaned their keyboard and 27% their monitor on a monthly basis. Just over one in 10 said they never cleaned their keyboard, while 20% said they never cleaned their mouse, the re port said. Among the chief unhygien causes for such ic surrounding were at their people eating desks, with crumbs lodged between keys leading to the growth of mil lions of bacte ria, poor personal hygiene, particularly people failing to wash their hands after using the toilet. It was also found that dust with moisture provides ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria.