Hand washing: weapon of mass ‘germ' destruction

[struggle4progress]

By Stella Ejiofoh-Alli

December 8, 2009 04:40AMT
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I admit it: I am a bit of a germophobe. In fact, my friends and family think I am a huge germophobe and I was recently accused of being obsessive because of my hand washing habit. I believe that prevention is far better than cure and that you should take every opportunity to avoid contact with germs. Plus, as an Intensive Care physician, I get to see the worst possible kinds of infections. Hear this: "Hand Washing is the single most important means to keep from getting sick and to prevent the spread of infection" - US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hand washing is considered so important that the United Nations actually has a global hand washing day. The first was on October 15, 2008. Why is this so?

Over 150 years ago, it was demonstrated that hand washing saved lives. In a hospital in Vienna, maternity patients were dying at such an alarming rate; they begged to be sent home. By encouraging hand washing amongst the doctors before and after examining each patient, the infection and death rates were reduced by 80 percent.

Proper hand-washing is not just good for cleanliness; it also is a major means of preventing disease. A Centre for Disease Control report showed that proper hand-washing nearly halved the incidence of pneumonia-related infections in children under five. Pneumonia is a leading cause of death in such children. A recent Food and Drug Administration study reveals that proper hand-washing can stop up to half of all food borne illnesses, such as E coli, Salmonella and Rota virus ...

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5492966-146/Hand_washing:_weapon_of_mass_%E2%80%98germ%27.csp

Getting together for the holidays? You don't need to be obsessive, but wash em regularly

[amborin]

1. it's so crucial

and this campaign is surprisingly needed in hospitals, where MRSA, regular staph, and other deadly bacteria and viruses are spread by lack of hand washing

also interesting tidbit:

i read that the 62% alcohol based gel hand sanitizer does not kill the Noro virus; apparently only chlorox does!

[Libertas1776]

2. It's a very important thing to wash one's hands with soap.

However, people seem to be overusing those anti-bacterial, microbial etc soaps which, as I understand, hurts one's ability to build a natural immune system to most germs. It also causes a resistance to antibiotics.

[kestrel91316]

3. Handwashing with soap and water doesn't kill many germs. It DOES

mechanically remove them, which is just as good.

So sayeth kestrel the microbiologist this 8th day of December in the year of our lord 2009.

[struggle4progress]

4. Yep: a good 20 or 30 second scrub with soap and warm water

[CreekDog]

5. and clean your phones and keyboards

especially if you have a phone that you never let go of.

[TexasObserver]

6. And it feels good, too!

[Raschel]

7. I am germ 'conscious' as well. Everyone remember, after you wash your hands,

don't turn the faucet off with your hands if the faucet is manual. Use a paper towel. And use your elbow to push the paper towel lever, not your hands. And of course, a paper towel for the door handle.

It makes no sense to wash your hands, and then reintroduce them to the germs.

p.s., hands off railings, keep your winter gloves on when using shopping carts, and never EVER use a public bowling ball!

[Indenturedebtor]

8. I wash my hands when I use the bathroom

and before I eat/cook. Other than that not so much. What disgusts me is when you're sitting in the bathroom handling your business and you hear a flush with no following faucet noise! :puke:

But I pretty much never get sick... I think that it's because I drink a ton of water every day and eat lots and lots of vegetables. I smoke, drink, don't sleep enough, etc. But I eat lots of veggies :shrug:

Not that hand washing is bad. I do however think that some baseline of exposure to germs is important. I dunno I'm no immunologist.

[struggle4progress]

9. My completely unsupported theory is that I have fewer allegies if I allow regular minor

challenges to my immune system. But I have another unsupported theory: holiday travel and getting together with people from all over the place is often followed by colds and such -- so at this time of year, I figure it doesn't hurt to take a bit of extra care

[Indenturedebtor]

10. Not unsupported. It's called the Hygiene Hypothesis

Yeah different region's illnesses will get me sometimes hehe. If I stay home i NEVER get sick, but when I travel I stand a normal chance at getting a cold.

[snagglepuss]

11. The Brits came up with a great slogan that's been very successful changing attitudes

about handwashing. They actually did extensive studies on different slogans and what they found worked with men is "Soap it off now, or eat it later." This slogan seems to touch a nerve.

[Indenturedebtor]

14. LOL no doubt n/t

[Cirque du So-What]

12. Wash for as long as it takes to sing two choruses of 'Happy Birthday to You'

Silently, please.

[tavalon]

13. My family just knows that I will wash my hands immediately after coming in from the outside world

And yes, it is a bit obsessive, but I get far fewer infections.