It's Flu Season: Are we scrubbing the good guys away?
Posted December 5, 2012 10:15 am | Public News Service
TALLAHASSEE, FL - It's the cold and flu season, and the CDC recommends hand-washing as a way to keep yourself healthy and to prevent spreading germs when you do get sick. But a study from Johns Hopkins University raises questions about whether we're "too clean" because of the use of antibacterial products. The researchers found that children with higher levels of chemicals from antibacterial soaps had more allergies.
Children's Mercy Hospital Allergy and Immunology specialist Dr. Jay Portnoy says not all bacteria are bad, so we don't want to be scrubbing away the good ones.
Links:
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John Hopkins' Study
•
The CDC: How to wash your hands
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Posters and information on hand washing
"If we start to kill off all the normal bacteria, use too many antimicrobial soaps, then they don't develop the ability to get along with them and they don't provide the service that we're used to."
The service they provide is help in fighting off the
bad bacteria. Researchers say lack of exposure to bad
bacteria can cause our immune systems to become
overactive and react to things such as cats and pollen.
Dr. Portnoy says hand-washing plays an important role in
preventing the spread of disease. However, he says
washing with regular soap and water is all we really
need.
Dr. Portnoy describes it as a symbiotic relationship
that we have with the normal bacteria living on, and in,
us.
"Our skin has bacteria on it. Our intestines have
bacteria in them and they provide a service. They help
us digest our food. They help produce vitamins and
minerals for us. They help to fend off the pathogens or
the bad bacteria."
Dr. Portnoy says no one is suggesting that anyone stop
washing their hands. He says everyone needs to wash with
soap and water to prevent the spread of disease. That
especially applies to doctors.
"But I do wash my hands before every patient. And
patients should ask their doctor to do that. If you see
your doctor walk into the room and they don't wash their
hands, before they touch you ask him if he could please
wash his hands."
Dr. Portnoy says he agrees with the CDC guidelines that
says keeping hands clean is one of the best ways to
prevent the spread of disease. He says further studies
are needed on the chemicals contained in antibacterial
soaps.
Photo credit: washinghands.net