Discovering a correlation between hand pathogens and the transmission of contagious diseases, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, a young Hungarian doctor in Vienna, introduced a groundbreaking solution of hand washing and instrument sterilization. This intervention drastically reduced the childbed fever rate in his hospital to less than 1 percent. Today, this discovery serves as a crucial element in combatting a global pandemic.
Beyond the realm of medicine, the awareness of the link between hand hygiene and communicable diseases has led to the development and widespread use of antibacterial and antiseptic products such as Dettol. Hand washing, a simple yet effective medical practice, has saved numerous lives over the past two centuries. Its significance has become even more pronounced in the era of the SARS COV-2 novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Science of Handwashing
Understanding the true impact of handwashing in the ongoing fight against COVID-19 requires acknowledging that our hands serve as a highly efficient medium for transporting and transferring microbes. The average human skin/hand harbors approximately 1500 germs per square centimeter, with some individuals carrying a total microbial load of about 2-10 million. These germs consist of both resident (non-harmful) and transient (harmful) varieties.
Resident germs, providing beneficial activities and aiding in combating harmful germs, are challenging to remove. Conversely, transient germs, capable of surviving on hands for 1-3 hours, can easily spread through contact. The physical action of hand washing with soap effectively removes pathogens from the skin, preventing their transfer. Considering that our hands frequently come into contact with various surfaces and skins, the thorough removal of microbes becomes crucial, especially as the COVID-19 virus can remain active on surfaces for up to 28 days.
According to Dr. Sallie Permar, an infectious disease researcher at Duke University, soap can also disrupt the COVID-19 virus by attacking its “envelope” – the layer surrounding the virus that facilitates binding to and invading new cells. The interaction between fatty substances in the virus envelope and soap molecules leads to the disruption of the envelope, rendering the virus unable to infect human cells.
It’s important to note that while ethyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers have a similar effect on pathogens like COVID-19, they cannot substitute handwashing. According to Chidiebere Akusobi, an infectious disease researcher at Harvard’s School of Public Health, hand sanitizers kill microbes but cannot remove them from skin surfaces like soap, which is designed to eliminate oily dirt.
The Magnified Importance of Handwashing in the Era of the Coronavirus
A 2008 American study revealed that simply washing hands after interacting with people and unsterilized surfaces can reduce the risk of contracting respiratory infections, such as the coronavirus, by up to 21 percent. Statistically, handwashing with soap and adherence to physical distancing guidelines are more effective in slowing virus spread than any other intervention outside of vaccination.
Given the COVID-19 pathogen’s ability to survive on surfaces for up to 28 days, objects and surfaces touched by multiple individuals can serve as vectors for transmitting the virus to new hosts. This poses a significant risk since patients can spread the virus even during the pre-symptomatic stage, which lasts up to 14 days in most cases.
Regular handwashing eliminates and removes pathogens from the skin’s surface, reducing the risk of transmission, especially after touching contaminated surfaces. In the absence of a vaccine, regular handwashing stands as the most powerful defense against the coronavirus, potentially safeguarding families from the disease.
For accurate and up-to-date advice, please visit www.covid19.ncdc.gov.ng or check out www.covid-19facts.com. You can also call the NCDC Toll free number 08009700010