HAND SANITIZERS DO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASES
Numerous studies, experiments and tests prove in favour of hand sanitizers. Results convey that these products kill most (but not all) bacteria and viruses on contact. Studies further show that the higher the alcohol concentrations in hand sanitizers, the higher the efficiency of hand sanitizers. Sanitizers with alcohol concentrations in a range of 60%-95% can make certain harmful microbes inactive. This inhibits the harmful microbe from being a virus/infection and negatively affecting a human body. Sanitizers are claimed to kill bacteria and most viruses such as: H1N1, common colds (rhinovirus), influenza (flu virus), HIV, E.coli, salmonella, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections and many more.
In a hospital facility from February 2000 to May 2001, infection rates and type data were collected from a unit of 498 patients. During this time, an alcohol gel hand sanitizer was provided for all the caregivers to study the infection rate of these caregivers after visit their sick family/friends. Primarily the infections were Urinary Tract and Surgical Site infections. Then results from an area where hand sanitizer was used and an area where hand sanitizers weren't used, was compared. The results demonstrated a decrease of 36.1% infection rate for 16 months where hand sanitizers were used. Thus indicating that the use of alcohol sanitizers is an effective tool for infection control and sanitation.
A sufficient amount of product with a vigorous amount of rubbing and coverage of entire surface of hands quickly reduces the number of germs existing. Alcohol hand sanitizers work effectively and immediately with direct contact. As soon as the alcohol touches the infectious microbial cells, it denatures its essential proteins making it lose its structure and rendering it useless. Additionally, alcohol gels strip away strip away the outer oil layer of the skin. This therefore destroys any short-term, harmful micro-organisms existing on the hand’s surface. Although some good micro-organisms that are naturally present on the skin are killed, it does not present any risk to the body. The body also rapidly restores the good micro-organisms in the hands. Furthermore, these effects of the alcohol in hand sanitizers makes it very inhospitable for viruses. The viruses simply do not want to cling to the skin therefore abolishing the purpose of viruses.
An earlier study in 2005, consisted of taking reports from 2 groups of families. One group using hand sanitizers and the other without while exposed to patients of gastrointestinal infections. This study found that families that used hand sanitizers had about 60% decrease gastrointestinal diseases than the group without the use of sanitizers. Additionally in 2009, a collaboration of Good Morning America and the University of Maryland, also proved the efficiency of hand sanitizers. They deliberately put the bacteria E.coli on their hands to see which products would wash off this bacteria. The first trial consisted of alcohol based hand sanitizers for 15-20 seconds while the second trial consisted of hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds. They then took swab tests of each scenario and tested it. The results showed that the alcohol hand sanitizer killed more E.coli bacteria and left less of these bacteria existing on the hands.
Hand sanitizers in the form of gel and liquid are also one of the most common uses of sanitation of hands in most hospitals all over the world. It is placed in dispensers in all entrances, exits and common places. They are also commonly placed in many schools, business and stores, proving the popularity of hand sanitizers. This is for a reason of course. The use of daily washing of soap and water, may dry out the skin and dehydrate it. However through hand sanitizers this is not the case, the inactive ingredients like essential oils from plants, hydrates the skin and provide a many benefits for the skin. Studies have depicted that sanitizers have faster antibacterial activity than soap and water. Thus the process of sanitation and killing of infectious microbial cells is much faster than the process of washing through soap and water. This creates a decrease in absenteeism in workplaces, schools etc.
A test even exists to prove this. A 10-week study was performed on 420 students, to use hand sanitizers before and after using restrooms every day. However one control group was held to continue using only soap and water. Data was gathered about illness-related absenteeism and it showed that in comparison to the hand-washing only group, students who used hand sanitizers were found to have 41.9% fewer illness-related absent days.
In a hospital facility from February 2000 to May 2001, infection rates and type data were collected from a unit of 498 patients. During this time, an alcohol gel hand sanitizer was provided for all the caregivers to study the infection rate of these caregivers after visit their sick family/friends. Primarily the infections were Urinary Tract and Surgical Site infections. Then results from an area where hand sanitizer was used and an area where hand sanitizers weren't used, was compared. The results demonstrated a decrease of 36.1% infection rate for 16 months where hand sanitizers were used. Thus indicating that the use of alcohol sanitizers is an effective tool for infection control and sanitation.
A sufficient amount of product with a vigorous amount of rubbing and coverage of entire surface of hands quickly reduces the number of germs existing. Alcohol hand sanitizers work effectively and immediately with direct contact. As soon as the alcohol touches the infectious microbial cells, it denatures its essential proteins making it lose its structure and rendering it useless. Additionally, alcohol gels strip away strip away the outer oil layer of the skin. This therefore destroys any short-term, harmful micro-organisms existing on the hand’s surface. Although some good micro-organisms that are naturally present on the skin are killed, it does not present any risk to the body. The body also rapidly restores the good micro-organisms in the hands. Furthermore, these effects of the alcohol in hand sanitizers makes it very inhospitable for viruses. The viruses simply do not want to cling to the skin therefore abolishing the purpose of viruses.
An earlier study in 2005, consisted of taking reports from 2 groups of families. One group using hand sanitizers and the other without while exposed to patients of gastrointestinal infections. This study found that families that used hand sanitizers had about 60% decrease gastrointestinal diseases than the group without the use of sanitizers. Additionally in 2009, a collaboration of Good Morning America and the University of Maryland, also proved the efficiency of hand sanitizers. They deliberately put the bacteria E.coli on their hands to see which products would wash off this bacteria. The first trial consisted of alcohol based hand sanitizers for 15-20 seconds while the second trial consisted of hand washing with soap and water for 20 seconds. They then took swab tests of each scenario and tested it. The results showed that the alcohol hand sanitizer killed more E.coli bacteria and left less of these bacteria existing on the hands.
Hand sanitizers in the form of gel and liquid are also one of the most common uses of sanitation of hands in most hospitals all over the world. It is placed in dispensers in all entrances, exits and common places. They are also commonly placed in many schools, business and stores, proving the popularity of hand sanitizers. This is for a reason of course. The use of daily washing of soap and water, may dry out the skin and dehydrate it. However through hand sanitizers this is not the case, the inactive ingredients like essential oils from plants, hydrates the skin and provide a many benefits for the skin. Studies have depicted that sanitizers have faster antibacterial activity than soap and water. Thus the process of sanitation and killing of infectious microbial cells is much faster than the process of washing through soap and water. This creates a decrease in absenteeism in workplaces, schools etc.
A test even exists to prove this. A 10-week study was performed on 420 students, to use hand sanitizers before and after using restrooms every day. However one control group was held to continue using only soap and water. Data was gathered about illness-related absenteeism and it showed that in comparison to the hand-washing only group, students who used hand sanitizers were found to have 41.9% fewer illness-related absent days.