Hand Sanitizer Research Paper

In today 's society, there are ways to prevent disease and infection. The two main ways to prevent the spread of disease is to use hand sanitizers, or to wash your hands. Many say that hand sanitizers kill the pathogens, or “microorganisms that causes disease that accumulate on your hands” (Krystine). Also, people say that hand washing is the best way to prevent pathogens from spreading, which is true. In the past, before people were educated on the risk factors of not being sanitary, sickness spread. Surgeons, nurses, and doctors did not wash their hands between patients. Because of this unsanitary method, many people were getting sick and also dying. Joseph Lister is known as the Father of Surgery. With his new discovery of the aseptic technique, world now knows that hand washing is the most effective way to control the spread of pathogens …show more content…
Hand sanitizers, or gels, are used in replacement for hand washing. While someone uses hand sanitizers, they are quickly reducing the number of pathogens on their hands. This is one of the main reasons why most health care facilities, highly recommending their workers to use high quality sanitizers while moving from person to person. These high quality sanitizers must have at least sixty percent alcohol in them to kill most germs. While using hand sanitizer, “you should use it in respected amounts by rubbing it in your hands for ten to fifteen seconds. If your hands are not dry within fifteen seconds, then you did not use enough” (Franklin). Also, “gels can quickly reduce the number of germs on your hands” (Cox). However, they do not eliminate the germs. Some hospitals use foam sanitizers. In this form of sanitizer, there is a high probability that it has it has less than the sixty percent of alcohol it needs for it to work. With less alcohol, the more bacteria can originate. “Some sanitizers can leave more bacteria on your hands if it has less alcohol”