You've seen all the mothers pouring sanitizing gel into their little ones' hands, and you've noticed automatic sanitizer pumps popping up on the walls of hospitals, zoos and malls, but you wonder if the alcohol solution really measures up to hand washing. What makes hand sanitizers good is mostly that they're convenient when water isn't available for a thorough cleansing, but new information suggests they may be even more effective than hand washing in some situations.
Benefits
Washing hands with ordinary soap and water is typically the best way to eliminate germs, but many people don't wash for the 20 seconds recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although the CDC recommends using alcohol-based products only when soap and water aren't available, LiveScience.com says using a hand sanitizer for less than its recommended 15 seconds is generally more helpful than washing hands improperly. One health condition hand sanitizer is known to help combat is gastrointestinal illnesses. According to a study at Harvard Medical School, participants who used alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel experienced a 59 percent reduced spread of gastrointestinal illnesses in comparison with families that didn't use it.
Limitations
Hand sanitizers work best on hands that aren't visibly dirty. They help kill some bacteria, but they can't necessarily keep hands clean by removing grime such as dirt, feces and body fluids, according to NYTimes.com. Additionally, alcohol can't effectively contain germs such as E. coli and the norovirus, according to LiveScience.com. As a result, washing hands with soap and water is generally more effective in situations such as cooking and using the restroom.
Function
The alcohol in hand sanitizers is potent. It dissolves the cellular membrane of some bacteria to kill them, and it evaporates after killing about the first layer of germs on the skin, according to LiveScience.com. This is beneficial because it reduces the amount of bacteria on the hands, but it doesn't promote future bacterial resistance.
Instructions for Use
Following the proper cleaning protocol will help maximize the effects of a hand sanitizer. To reap the most benefits, the Mayo Clinic recommends applying enough product to the palms of your hands to fully wet your hands, then rubbing your hands together for as long as 25 seconds or until they are dry. In the process, be sure that all surfaces of your hands have been rubbed with the product, including the tops and between the fingers.
Considerations
A March 2006 study in Emerging Infectious Diseases found that one or more brands of hand sanitizer sold in stores contained less than 60 percent alcohol, the minimum amount recommended to effectively kill bacteria. As a result, consumers should read the ingredient label to ensure that the active alcohol ingredient (e.g. isopropanol or ethyl alcohol) contains at least that much.
Member Comments