2006-12-28 13:41:53 · 9 answers · asked by jeep1450 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
Yes, I've seen it in use in two different doctors offices and I use it myself. Its main ingredient is alcohol an old stand by for killing germs. The only draw back is if you use it often it will dry the skin out.
Just an added note about "genetic or germ resistance" from over use. There is not a germ that I know of that could become resistant (genetic) or otherwise from the killing power of alcohol. Which as stated above most hand sanitizers contain alcohol. ~A~
2006-12-28 13:44:35 · answer #1 · answered by porsche 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The alcohol is a germicide (kills germs). Soap is not germicidal, and labeling them such is misleading. The anti-bacterial hype used on soaps is possibly leading to genetic resistance from its overuse. Regular soap does just as well. Soap does not kill germs as popularly thought. It's the rubbing and water washing the bacteria away. They don't have as much chance to grow into colonies. One germ does not usually cause an infection, they must reproduce to reach a "critical mass". There is one very dangerous exception to this and that is the tuberculosis bacterium. It only takes one --and it can live on soap. That is a good reason to keep the soap in dispensers.
2006-12-28 14:27:02 · answer #2 · answered by lyyman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They work; some say they have 99.9% effectiveness. What you have to remember is that having that much germ killing capability is not necessary. We need small amounts of germs to maintain our immune system. In fact an Australian journal of medicine recently published an article that stated that people who ate their 'boogers' had a better functioning immune system.
Food for though i guess.
PS - I've always been curious, the stuff kills germs but what gets them off your hands afterwards. Does that have any type of effect?
2006-12-28 13:48:00 · answer #3 · answered by n_m_young 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there's no substitute for good old soap and water but the sanitizers do kill a lot of germs. i work in a hospital and they have those foam alcohol dispensers everywhere but they do not kill certain germs that can be passed from patient to patient. for instant c-diff is highly contagious and the patient ends up with horrible diarrhea. if i don't wash my hands, i can pass it on to myself or another patient. the alcohol foam does not kill it. so i would assume the sanitizer doesn't either.
2006-12-28 13:51:05 · answer #4 · answered by bernie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Germ-x is a alcohol and moisturizing lotion solution. Alcohol is a disinfectant. It is probably just as effective as washing your hands on a regular basis........especially after coming into contact with a possible germ source.
nothing is 100%, but preventitive measures go a long way.
2006-12-28 13:49:20 · answer #5 · answered by Jeffrey F 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does work,but its best to use good old fashioned soap and water. But the sanitizers work when you are out and have no access to soap and water
2006-12-28 13:50:08 · answer #6 · answered by tnbadbunny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think they work fine and use them all the time.
my friends always pick on me though because they say that the germs get used to the anti-bacterial gel and eventually mutate against it, not sure if this is true or not?
using it makes me feel better so whatever!
2006-12-28 13:45:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are in every hospital room and in the hall near the nurse's station in the hospitals in Tulsa, OK, and in my doctor's office. If they don't work, why would the hospitals have them everywhere? The nurses and aides cleaned their hands every time they left my room, and that was often. (I was there 4 days)
2006-12-28 13:50:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They clean the hands, yes, but I have to go rinse and dry ANYway because I can't stand the residue, ew.
2006-12-29 05:55:24 · answer #9 · answered by Zeera 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋