Fighting infections with basic hygiene
Clinical Assistant Professor
of Ophthalmology at NYU
COURIER LIFE, NOVEMBER 8-14, 2019 33
There are many ways to avoid infection,
but few might be as simultaneously
simple and effective
as handwashing.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, keeping hands
clean is one of the most important steps
a person can take to avoid getting sick
and spreading germs to others. While
skeptics might question just how big
an impact handwashing can have, the
science behind washing hands paints
a pretty strong picture of just how benefi
cial this particular component of personal
hygiene can be.
How germs get you sick
The CDC notes that feces from
people and animals are considerable
sources of germs, including salmonella
and E. coli. These germs can get onto
people’s hands after they use the toilet
or change a diaper. People who handle
raw meats also be exposed to such
germs, as these foods can contain invisible
amounts of animal feces on them.
The amount of germs contained in small
amounts of feces may come as a shock.
Research published in the journal Applied
and Environmental Microbiology
found that a single gram of human feces
weighing about as much as a paper clip
can contain one trillion germs.
What does handwashing do?
With so many germs fl oating around,
it may seem as though something as
simple as handwashing couldn’t be
nearly as effective as it’s said to be.
But the CDC notes that handwashing
removes germs from hands, thereby
removing an easy way for germs to enter
the body and be passed on to others.
For instance, many people habitually
touch their eyes, nose and mouth
without thinking twice, and doing so
provides an easy way for germs to enter
the body via the hands. By washing
their hands, people can cut off this
easy entryway for germs.
Handwashing also presents germs
from entering the body while eating.
Germs from unwashed hands can get
into people’s food and drinks, and can
even multiply in some foods and beverages,
potentially contributing to illness.
Washing hands also prevents the
spread of germs by preventing them
from being transferred from hands to
handrails, table tops or toys, where
they can then spread to other people’s
hands.
Handwashing is a simple yet effective
way to stop the spread of germs.
HEALTH BASICS
BRIGHTON EYE • TAKING CARE OF BROOKLYN’S EYES FOR OVER 28 YEARS