It isn't any "worse", but that dosn't make it safe. For what it's worth, even "supermarket baskets" are getting a bad rap. On my local TV station's news, they are doing "flourescent dye" tests on the handles, and it's ugly. A whole new business has sprouted up, "portable disinfectant wipes", which mother's with babies can use before they put their baby in.

Personnally, I never let a public phone touch my hear, I hold it a few inches away, or wear a hood. And heres one that may make you laugh, I flush at the male urinals with my elbow. :-) I also never touch door handles if possible, I use my foot to push it from the bottom.

Just for the record, I'm not exactly a germaphobe. I'm an organic garderner, and my hands are in dirt and compost all the time....but there are "good bacteria" and there are "bad bacteria". The "bad bacteria" tends to be transmitted by host contact.