Are hand sanitizers really as good as washing with soap and water?

No! ';Antibacterial hand sanitizers are marketed to the public as an effective way to ';wash one's hands'; when traditional soap and water are not available. These ';waterless'; products are particularly popular with parents of small children. Manufacturers of hand sanitizers claim that the sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of germs. Since you naturally use hand sanitizers to cleanse your hands, the assumption is that 99.9 percent of harmful germs are killed by the sanitizers. Recent research suggests that this is not the case.





How do hand sanitizers work?





Hand sanitizers work by stripping away the outer layer of oil on the skin. This usually prevents bacteria present in the body from coming to the surface of the hand. However, these bacteria that are normally present in the body are generally not the kinds of bacteria that will make us sick. In a review of the research, Barbara Almanza, an associate professor at Purdue University who teaches safe sanitation practices to workers, came to an interesting conclusion. She notes that the research shows that hand sanitizers do not significantly reduce the number of bacteria on the hand and in some cases may potentially increase the amount of bacteria on the hand. So the question arises, how can the manufacturers make the 99.9 percent claim?





How can the manufacturers make the 99.9 percent claim?





The manufacturers of the products test the products on inanimate surfaces hence they are able to derive the claims of 99.9 percent of bacteria killed. If the products were fully tested on hands, there would no doubt be different results. Since there is inherent complexity in the human hand, testing hands would definitely be more difficult. Using surfaces with controlled variables is an easier way to obtain some type of consistency in the results. But as we are all aware, everyday life is not as consistent.





Current recommendations for hand sanitation





Interestingly enough, the Food and Drug Administration, in regards to regulations concerning proper procedures for food services, recommends that hand sanitizers not be used in place of soap and water but only as an adjunct.





Likewise, Almanza recommends that to properly sanitize the hands, soap and water should be used. A hand sanitizer can not and should not take the place of proper cleansing procedures with soap and water.';Are hand sanitizers really as good as washing with soap and water?
hand sanitizer kills the infectious dose, just like soap and water. infectious dose=amount of germs it take to make one sick.Are hand sanitizers really as good as washing with soap and water?
the best way to make sure your hands are clean is to wash and then sanitize.
Best known substitute


nothing beats





nice hot waterhand wash


hmmmm
As long as you thoroughly and vigorously rub your hands together for at least 30 seconds you should be fine.
No they aren't, but the next best thing to it. The sanitizers should have alot of alcohol in them to work best.





I recently read this in the newspaper.
I heard on dateline NBC that they will actually do more harm than good in the long run because the bacteria will develop an immunity to the santizer. It's actually better for our society to use regular soap and water. BUT if you need something quick and there isn't that available, use the hand sanitizer.





JustinW


www.weakbody.com
i think so.
they are good for when you are 'on the go'..
I believe just good old soap and water is better. Just make sure you wash for at least a good minute. In a pinch I would use the sanitizers. The trouble with sanitizers are that they dry your skin and using them to often makes the germs stronger to fight them off
I have been hearing things that suggest that the sanitizers are used so much that the bacterias and viruses that they were meant to kill are now mutating and becoming immune to the sanitizers. Soap and water still seems to be the best bet!
I've heard experts say that hand sanitizers work as well as hand washing but they should not be used in place of it. Hand sanitizers are best used for times when soap and water are not available.