transmission

This is an edited excerpt from a poster known as Gomer on the Techimo.com forum.

We did a couple of interesting experiments in my microbiology class. One measured the effectiveness of different handwashing methods. Unless you scrub/bush under your fingernails, everything already living under there recolonizes your hands when you rinse them. Good for getting rid of foreign bacteria I guess, but if you've got MSRA hanging out under there, it's not going to help stop spreading it when you shake hands or just go about life.

In the second, we didn't know it was an experiment. Prior to class, the professor put a luminescent grease/gel on several select commonly touched surfaces; lab equipment drawer handles, pencil sharpeners, door knob, etc. At the end of the class he killed the lights and fired up a blacklight. That stuff was everywhere! Palms, back of hands, noses, foreheads, mouths, clothing, etc. It didn't matter who touched what.

I guess this boils down to one of those hindsight things. That is why I usually err to the side of caution with proactive regulation rather than reactive consternation.

Gomer does not go into detail about the "fingernails". It is assumed that slides would have been prepared.

The second experiment would be very interesting if carried out at a Healthcare convention of professionals. The people who are preaching that hygiene is the answer, when the truth lies in awareness. I think if would be very telling if those not washing their hands in the bathroom were unknowingly "DUSTED" upon exiting.