Hand sanitizers v/s soap and water – which one is better to kill coronavirus? |
Posted: June 4, 2020 |
Most of the viral diseases are unable to infect us until they reach our internal systems. For such, these disease-causing agents need an entry point – mouth, nose, eyes, and wounds are the most susceptible places.
Human hands play a major role in the transmission of these pathogens where the point of the first contact to different surfaces occurs through bare hands. Later, pathogens enter through the above-mentioned pathways and infect us and it’s better to keep hands germ-free as much as possible. Easily transmissible diseases like the ongoing pandemic of Covid-19 that can survive on different surfaces for a significant time. Touching those surfaces by hands helps the virus to attach on hands and to other places thereafter. Most of the human to human transmission also occurs through hands. Thus, hand hygiene is a major concern regarding healthcare where hand sanitizers play an important part in it. Hands remain germ-free through washing hands with soap and water as well as using sanitizers. In times of outdoor activities where such facilities are scarce, carrying hand sanitizers and applying them frequently helps to susceptibility any diseases such as Covid-19. Food poisoning can also be greatly reduced whether one is at school, college, and/or workplaces. How alcohol-based hand sanitizers work?The membrane of the coronavirus consists of oily lipid molecules studded with spike proteins that helps virus to infect cells. The genetic material of the virus remains protected within these lipid-protein capsules.
However, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer works well with at least 60% of Isopropyl alcohol (commonly known as rubbing alcohol). Up to alcohol concentration of 90% often considered to ensure reduced growth of viruses on hands as well as destroy them. Furthermore, at least 20 seconds need to spare after applying hand sanitizers. How do soap and water work?
Final takeaway…Of course, washing with soap and water is of no match to destroy viruses and keep our hands germ-free, but availability is not always practical. In such scenarios, alcohol-based hand sanitizers are almost as effective as soap and water that mainly consists of Isopropyl alcohol. If applied accordingly, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is efficient enough to destroy viruses like novel coronavirus and protect us from unforeseen fate. Considering frequent rubbing of hands with Isopropyl alcohol-based hand sanitizers will help to combat the dreadful pandemic caused by Covid-19 both individually and collectively.
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