Is Sanitizer Really Effective? - Yes And No

Although alcohol is a very effective way to kill germs

, sanitizer was never intended to be a complete replacement for washing. For this reason, it is probably best to keep sanitizer dispensers out of bathrooms to avoid giving the wrong impression. As a supplement to washing, sanitizer definitely has its place. Sanitizer can reduce the spreading of some pathogens, but it is crucial to know when sanitizer alone is not effective.

The fact is, that all of us constantly have micro bacteria on our hands. Microbacterial infections can grow from the failure to keep these bacteria to a minimum. By using hand sanitizer that contains alcohol, the amount of bacteria on the hands at the time of cleansing is reduced, so therefore there is an obvious yes answer to the question.

However, if the question pertains to the ability to remove all bacteria that causes illness, the answer is no. Sanitizers do not remove all forms of bacteria. In certain conditions, sanitizer is not effective by itself. One such condition is the case of bacteria contained in bodily fluids and blood. Sanitizer is not sufficient as a cleaning agent to remove the bacteria that may be contained in some blood and bodily fluids.

Nurses and other medical professionals should not use sanitizer alone but should do deep cleansing with hot water and soap. Medical professionals are often at threat of being exposed to hazardous bacteria including the HIV virus. The HIV virus may be carried through the blood of individuals who carry the virus.

Hand sanitizers are also not effective in the case of food handlers. Food handlers such as cook and food preps come into contact with raw food that can contain high amounts of transferable bacteria and infection. One such bacterium is salmonella. Salmonella can be contained in raw poultry and meats and can cause severe illness. Those that work with raw food should not expect sanitizer to be effective.

This possibility of salmonella poisoning is not restricted to professional food service. Anyone that handles raw poultry and meat should use hot water and soap and spend several minutes scrubbing to remove the forms of bacteria that they may be exposed to. Food borne illness can result at home as easily as it can in restaurants. Sanitizer is not effective at killing the kind of bacteria that exist when handling raw food.

Hand sanitizer alone is not effective at killing the types and amount of bacteria that you are exposed to when using the toilet. When releasing bodily fluids and solids, there are bacteria present that cannot be eliminated by sanitizer alone. It is vital that you scrub your hands with hot water and soap after using the toilet.

Another example of sanitizer not being effective is when handling animal feces. If you walk your dog and clean up after them then you are exposed to hazardous bacteria that may not be eliminated by sanitizer alone. This is also true when cleaning out a litter box or after cleaning up an accident that a pet may have on the floor.

Despite its shortcomings, when used as a supplement to soap and water, sanitizer can be effective. Although not a replacement for washing, sanitizer has its place when used properly and is an effective tool at reducing certain health risks.

by: Samantha Dale

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