Have Hand Sanitizers At The Ready Next Time You Share Your iPad

[engine]

Have Hand Sanitizers At The Ready Next Time You Share Your iPad [technolog.msnbc.msn.com]

"If you put virus on a surface, like an iPhone, about 30 percent of it will get on your fingertips," Julian told the Bee. That means, "a fair amount of it may go from your fingers to your eyes, mouth or nose," those likely orifices where infection enters our oh-so fragile bodies.

[Essex_boy]

I have a bottle in my car and use it after visits to some of my more disgusting tenants. Why I start using it ? I knew a guy who caught a life threatening infection....

A bottle is cheap.

[lawman]

Do hand sanitizers kill viruses?

[tangor]

Odd thing is that one of the national news networks was talking about bacteria on cell phones, particularly the touch screen types, and indicated that the surface was twice as contaminated as the handles on public toilets. Hows that for "hello?"! :)

[kaled]

Viruses are pretty easy to kill - they are generally much more fragile than bacteria (which can be very tough - anthrax being a prime example).

Although it would probably be possible to make touch screens from antimicrobial plastics and thereby reduce this problem, it would be a waste of time - people have been shaking hands with strangers for thousands of years without dropping down dead as a result.

As for hand-sanitizers - they'll do more harm to your wallet and the environment than they'll ever do good by way of infection control - even in hospitals they are a waste of time - certainly other measures could be taken which would have a far greater effect and result in far less wasted time (but would not be profitable for the manufactures and would not provide photo-ops for politicians).

Kaled.

[engine]

As for hand-sanitizers - they'll do more harm to your wallet and the environment than they'll ever do good by way of infection control - even in hospitals they are a waste of time

What evidence do you have that they are a waste of time in hospitals?

I'm no microbiological expert, however, shaking hands, or touching something, after someone has failed to wash their hands is surely just asking for the transfer of bugs and common sense to wash hands (or use a sanitizer if more conveneient) if you wish to reduce cross contamination or infection.

Every time I visit a public convenience I see people walk out without washing their hands. I wouldn't want to be using their phone, never mind touching the door handle.

[tonynoriega]

I always, when using public restrooms... use 1 finger to open the door. When i use the urinal, i dont even bother to flush... #1 i dont want to touch that nasty ass handle, #2 conserving water.

I can guarantee my genitals are cleaner than anything in that restroom... washing my hands after im done, i always turn off the faucet with towels, or my elbow.

Kick the door open on the way out. minimal touching offenses in that arena.

[tangor]

Soap and water has saved more lives since invented than anything else. Unfortunately, soap and water on cell phones... :)

[LifeinAsia]

soap and water on cell phones...

Just toss your phone in the dish washer once a week.

But make sure you bought the extended warranty first. :)

[kaled]

Soap and water has saved more lives since invented than anything else.

Clean water has saved many more lives than soap.

What evidence do you have that they are a waste of time in hospitals?

Infection rates in UK hospitals whilst down over recent years are still much higher than they were many years ago - conclusion : other factors than hand-hygiene are more significant and should be addressed.

I'm not going to get into details, however, I give you bed bugs for consideration. An interesting theory has been put forward for their re-emergence - low temperature washing i.e. they aren't killed off properly in the wash. Now, I don't know if that's true or not but it is a good example of a change in practice that can have unforseen consequences. There have been many changes in hospital practices and some clearly have potential to increase infection rates - but nobody is interested in looking even at basic things because progress is all good - it can't possibly be bad!

Kaled.

[g1smd]

Hand sanitisers are only effective if you have just washed your hands!

They are not effective when used on dirty hands. They are not a replacement for washing with soap and water.

[cmendla]

I was at a business meeting today. As I was leaving, I overheard a woman mentioning that she was diagnosed with MRSA in her hand. (I'm not sure if other countries refer to it by the same name, but MRSA is an antiobiotic resistant infection)

Hearing that gave me the creeps. If I didn't hear that, I probably would have ignored this thread. However, that hit home for me.

I'm not sure if hand sanitizers will kill MRSA or not. I suspect they will.

/rambling

[onepointone]

Never liked hand sanitizers. seems to me like just smearing the dirt and germs around. Hands don't seem clean.

Hand washing or maybe an antiseptic wipe will always be my first choice. But you have to make do with what you've got i guess.