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To: SeekAndFind

How about washing one’s hands? Alcohol-based hand sanitizers?


54 posted on 11/11/2009 9:21:50 AM PST by greatplains
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To: greatplains
How about washing one’s hands? Alcohol-based hand sanitizers?

Darn, saw an article about this recently, and I can't remember exactly where I read it. I can't find it on Google. (It was published at the CDC or NIH.) Wikipedia has a decent article on the subject "Hand Sanitizer."

Essentially, hand sanitizers are effective against most bacteria and enveloped viruses. Non-enveloped viruses might not be killed, nor will bacteria in spore form. All of these will be killed by bleach (on bleach resistant surfaces only, don't bleach your hands!). Some research has shown that the hand sanitizers kill susceptible organisms more effective than hand washing. Always use a product with at least 70% alcohol.

Neither hand sanitizers nor bleach are effective against cryptosporidia, a common cause of diarrhea among young children. To kill cryptosporidia, use hydrogen peroxide. If you are concerned about cryptosporidia, first clean the surface with bleach (diluted between 1:100 and 10:100), rinse it, then clean with hydrogen peroxide.

58 posted on 11/11/2009 10:28:44 AM PST by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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