Tens of millions of bacteria live within a few inches of our skin. The interior of our body is home to large communities of microorganisms, such as the microbiome. The human body is home to around 100 trillion microbes. Most, of course, are not only harmless, but the correct balance of these communities is essential for the health of the body. But there are foreign pathogens, viruses or bacteria, which can be harmful when inserted into our cells, causing various diseases, which we know as infectious diseases.
Hygiene, like the network of sanitary systems in cities and the development of other disinfectant products has been one of the true revolutions of the human being, which has allowed it to easily prevent diseases caused by pathogens. Specifically, hand washing with soap and water is a simple act but, at the same time, one of the most effective in preventing infectious diseases. It allows to eliminate microorganisms that cause respiratory diseases or diarrhea. Soap, or other disinfectant products, have components capable of dissolving the lipid layer that forms the envelope of, for example, viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 disease.
How to wash your hands properly?
But, for hand washing to be effective, it must be done correctly. Primary care experts believe that it is after 30 seconds when the number of germs is reduced by between 90% and 99% . To achieve good hand washing, it is recommended to first wet your hands with hot water and then rub them with soap everywhere, even between the fingers, for about 20 seconds. Then rinse your hands and dry with a clean towel. This operation should be repeated several times a day at key moments: before and after eating, then after visiting the toilet, after handling garbage, after touching animals …
Many studies have documented the ability of hand washing to prevent illnesses such as the flu or COVID-19. In fact, hand washing is the main recommendation of international health authorities against the new coronavirus over even masks, whose use includes more risks of being done incorrectly.
Handwashing and the flu
A study led by the Center for Biomedical Research on the Epidemiology and Public Health Network (CIBERESP) and the Center for Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), analyzed more than 1,500 patients hospitalized for influenza A (H1N1) in 36 different hospitals for three years. As explained by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), ” hand washing demonstrated a preventive effect in cases of flu that would have required hospital admission .” In addition, “the reduction in the risk of hospital admission was greater with increasing the frequency of hand washing: for this reason, hand washing is recommended at least 5 times a day (and better 10 or more)”. Especially if you live with people infected by this virus.
All in all, the data reveal that the vaccine is the main measure to prevent cases of the flu, since it manages to reduce the risk by 87% . Another curious conclusion drawn from the study is that the use of urban public transport, long-distance transport or a taxi is not associated with an increased risk of contracting the flu.
Handwashing and COVID-19
Instant cleaning of hands with a damp towel soaked in water containing 1% soap powder, 0.5% active chlorine or 0.25% active chlorine from sodium hypochlorite removed 98.36%, 96.62 % and 99.98% of the hand virus, respectively.
For their part, N95 masks, surgical masks, and homemade masks made of 4-ply kitchen paper and 1-ply cloth could block 99.98%, 97.14% and 95.15% of the virus in aerosols, respectively. The conclusion of the study was that the use of effective masks, added to hand hygiene, is the most effective method to stop the exponential spread of the virus.
Sources:
Qing ‐ Xia Ma (2020 Mar) ‘Potential utilities of mask wearing and instant hand hygiene for fighting SARS ‐ CoV ‐ 2’. DOI: 10.1002 / jmv.25805
Center for Biomedical Research in the Epidemiology and Public Health Network (CIBERESP) and the Center for Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES)
Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII)
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