While restrooms are indeed great sources of “germs” that can give us the common cold, influenza and other communicable illnesses, the office is another example of an area with multiple “high touch” surfaces.
Think about it, what are some commonly used objects in your office that many people use throughout the day? Doorknobs, copy machines, fax machines, staplers, water coolers, coffee pots—these are all surfaces that can harbor bacteria and other organisms. While fear is not encouraged, vigilance, frequent handwashing and the thorough and frequent cleaning of such objects is highly recommended.
Handwashing Is Key
If you’re ever in a restroom or handwashing station in a hospital, you may notice that some facilities encourage earnest handwashers to scrub their hands for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice, and then use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and to open the door. These actions protect the person who has just washed his or her hands from immediately contaminating their relatively clean hands on the faucet and doorknob that were sullied by previous users with less rigorous hygiene practices.
While antibacterial alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wipes are now often available at the entrances to schools, office buildings and grocery stores, there are also worries that this overuse of antibacterial products is leading to bacteria that are actually “resistant” to our antibacterial products. Still, the public awareness of the importance of hand hygiene is encouraging.
Speaking of hand sanitizers, research still shows that good old soap and hot water (without special antibacterial soap) is just as good—or better—at protecting us from bacteria and viruses than the antibacterial products. Additionally, traditional soap and water don’t contribute to the development of resistant bacteria and viruses.
A Little Paranoia Goes A Long Way
Some of this may indeed sound like a paranoid grandmother, but since science now backs up the fact that bacteria and viruses like to hang around on the surfaces that we touch so frequently, a little paranoia and attention to hygiene seems like a pretty good idea these days.
While proper coughing and sneezing techniques (sneezing or coughing into your sleeve rather than your hand) is catching on, many people still sneeze and cough the old-fashioned way (into their hands), and then touch doorknobs, faucets and all manner of objects with their potentially contaminated hands.
None of us like to get sick, and when we are not conscious of the surfaces and objects that carry bacteria and viruses that can make us sick, we put ourselves at risk of illness, which brings with it many financial, social and health costs that we would all much rather avoid.
The Hidden Dangers Of “High-Touch” Surfaces was originally published on blackdoctor.org
