hand sanitizers?

[John Smith]

I don't see why not - after all, hospitals have been around for several hundred years now, and all surgeons have had to sterilise their hands was soap and water.

I'm sure that all the anti-bacterial products around today are better than the old ways, but that does not mean that the old ways didn't work.

I must say though, I do find anti-bacterial socks a godsend!

[jayuk]

Hmmm I still would question that using this method would kill most germs....that I am certain maybe a little erroneous....some germs maybe...but not most.......but then what do I know!! closest I got to science was nearly blowing up the science lab with phosphorus, lighter and a bunsen burner!

[GarethB]

Germs are should I say microbes are a funny old thing with an ability to adapt.

What kills germs now will not work in a few years time. It is because we have over done the use of anti biotics that stronger ones have been developed. The microbes basically have an ability to mutate and become resisitant and anti-microbial soaps and antibiotics quicker than we can develop new ones. That is why MRSA is classed as a superbug, it is possible to trace where it may have orriginated from genetically and see how frequent. the mutations are.

My final year thesis at Uni where I grdauated in Environmental Microbiology was to show that bacteria under the right conditions were a natural way or removing organic polution. That is to say, I could make acertain type of bacteria munch its way through crude oil, diesel and petrol and break it down to nothing more than carbon dioxide and water without the aid of combustion.

I also scaled up a lab experiment to a full size system now in Sardinea that would remove pyritic sulphure (fools gold) from coal using bacteria. The products were low sulphur coal that could be burnt damp (safer as coal dust is worse than dynamite when it copmes to explosion hazards) and the by product was concentrated sulphuric acid whcih could be purified for use in car batteries and other industries and the excess bacteria could actually be dried and collected and used as fertilizer! Pitty there is no coal industry to use the process on. The bacteria used for this can be found around the volcanic vents of the black smokers that form the mid-atlantic ridge and are also found around mining water run off areas and the drilling heads at the bottom of the North Sea oil rigs.

Later went to graduate in Analytical Chemistry. Now thinking of doing a part time degree in Health and Safety.

Jay, can beat your explosion; mine resulted in me taking shelter under a bench that required a rescue by the fire brigade

[Sweet]

No it is very true. The reason why we have a MRSA outbreak and it is becoming harder to treat is because we are getting so dependent on antibiotics. We are lowering our bodies natural defences and making antibiotic resistant germs by our constant need to neutralise everything and take antibiotics for every condition!

Now we have a large increase in asthmatics and children who are unable to fight infections. Many years ago when antibiotics weren't as widely available we were better able to deal with minor infections ourselves. Our bodies are very able to fight off most infections if we give ourselves time and rest but our increasing need to take every medication and resist all illnesses is causing germs to multiple and become 'superbugs' which may sadly be totally untreatable.

I work in a hospital where there is obviously a large number of diseases and infections but i regularly wash my hands and always take extra care when playing with lenses. We just need to be sensible and know that our hands don't have to 'look' dirty to know that they may be carrying germs.

There is also the whole issue of handwashing. It should be with water as hot as you can stand and soap for three to five minutes. You should aim to cover all areas of your hands and rinse well. Germs will lurk under rings and watches so you should remove these before washing. Nurses are now banned from wearing watches and anything but a wedding ring in most places for this reason. Drying is also a major issue. Using just alcohol gels will not ensure that you have washed your hands properly and are not as kind to your hands in the long term.

Take care, Sweet X x X

[jayuk]

Gareth

I can beat that but I cant declare the situation officially lol...HRM rules and regs, OSA etc!

J

[Andrew MacLean]

Jay

Congratulations on your new Avatar! You've given us all something to which to aspire!

I am not entering the biggest bang competition in my own right, but on behalf of an anonymous lab assistant at my old school who accidentally washed some sodium down a sink.

There was a gurgling and then a wooshing as the sodium reacted with the water and sent drain water like fountains out of the plug-holes in what seemed like every sink and basin in the school (although it was probably far more localized than it seemed to an amazed 14 year old!)

I think this was what took my sister into science

Andrew

[Andrew MacLean]

Oh, back onto topic:

Is it fair to summarize the advice of the experts as:

1 Wash thoroughly with soap and hot water, and dry well with a clean towel

2 when hot water and soap are not available it is safe to use alcohol based or even alcohol free hand scrubs

3 Otherwise sensible precautions should prevail



Andrew

[jayuk]

Andrew

Didnt notice the Avatar until you pointed it out! but looks good!...although I assure you I am no champion in anything lol....

Does that mean John has introduced a new ranking scheme?

Although, over the next few months I wont be able to post as much due to Academic commitments and Career moves so looks like we need a new post-hound!...Although I must stress..post count means nothing if it isnt backed with reasons and value.......so maybe Im not really a champion lol


J

[Andrew MacLean]

Jay

I think that the tongue in cheek aspect has to do with quantity, but it would be worth saying that you hit a high quality of posting: I have never known you to give poor or reckless opinions or ill considered advice.

Like I say, something for us all (and by that I mean me) to aspire to.

Andrew

[John Smith]

Hehe. No, it doesn't mean I have a new ranking system... just that Jay has now (finally) reached the final rank of the current set.

Congratulations, Jay on getting your fifth eye!

Now. How on earth do I come up with something to top this!?