Why you should always wash your hand with soap and water

Anatomically, the hand is the region of the body that extends from the wrist and includes the palms and the fingers. While some persons have risen to show that the hands are indeed dispensable yet the multi utility of the hand may never be over emphasized.

Micro organisms which are living things that we can’t see with the naked eye are ubiquitous that is to say they are everywhere, and that includes our very own bodies! Don’t panic! Some of these micro organisms are beneficial to us and some do not cause diseases. These microbes which do not cause diseases are said to be non-pathogenic. Most of them form the normal micro flora of the body. The micro flora is simply a term used to refer to those micro organisms that you find normally living in the body. Some of the micro flora are resident and are referred to as resident micro flora. Some others are said to be transient. They are present for a short period as they are only acquired from the environment. It is important to also state that some of these normal floras have the potential of actually becoming pathogenic when they are displaced from their original sites to some other sites in the body.

  

The resident micro flora present on the skin helps to prevent colonization by invading bacteria which could be pathogenic.

This article would be restricted to a group of micro organisms called BACTERIA. Heard about them before? Well the term is used to describe a wide range of organisms that vary not just in size, but also in morphology.

Bacteria that are able to cause diseases are said to be pathogenic. These pathogenic organisms have the capacity to form spores which enables them to survive for longer durations outside the human body.

Every day we work and we touch surfaces and that exposes us to millions of pathogenic bacteria which could really be harmful. The rails of the stair case, the tables in our offices, and oh! Even handshakes too!

The risk we are exposed to is reduced when the skin of our hands are intact, that is to say without cuts or other forms of injuries which exposes a more delicate part of our bodies which is vascularised, meaning that there is blood flowing through them. The danger of this is that such microbes we come in contact with can be transported to areas of our body where they can proliferate and eventually cause diseases. That’s why it is important that cuts especially on the hands be sealed with plaster or a sterile bandage.

Some common organisms which are most likely to cause infections following unwashed hands include the following:

Staphylococci: This is a broad family which includes S aureus, which causes a variety of infections owing to its high virulence. S epidermidis, S saprophyticus and S lugdunensis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa  a major cause of nosocominal infections or simply stated hospital acquired infections.

When it comes to aseptic techniques, which entails protocols, to prevent the introduction of micro organisms, hand washing ranks as one of the tops. Soaps especially Antiseptic soaps play vital roles.

The term antiseptic is used to refer to products which can kill or limit the rate of growth of micro organisms on living tissue such as the skin. Most antiseptics are bacteriostatic which means that they inhibit bacteria growth however a few products claim to be bactericidal that is, they kill bacteria. These antiseptics may act in one or more of the following ways: coagulating the proteins of the bacteria, damage due oxidation, disruption of the cell membrane and disruption of the enzymes of the organisms.

So stay safe. Always wash your hands using soaps preferably antiseptic soaps. You’d be protecting yourself and people you care about too.

Author:

Mgbakogu, Robinson

Medical Lab. Scientist.