Hand SoapI promised to discuss soap - this is an important topic with infection prevention. With so many options these days, product selection is tough. Even though the fragrance of hand soap is important to me, smell is not a priority criterion in product selection. But before we evaluate soaps for handwashing, we should first identify the purpose of soap in this process. Basically soap decreases the surface tension on the hands and allows removal of dirt and microbes.We have 2 types of microbes on our hands: resident microbes are part of your normal skin flora (Staph epidemidis and Staph aureus) and can't be totally eradicated even with surgical hand scrubs in the hospital. You can't sterilize hands! Transient microbesare those that you pick up "along the way" - in the restroom, while preparing food, gardening, studying in school, etc. Some of these microbes we pick up are pathogenic (disease-producing) and most are non-pathogenic.
The process of handwashing with soap and water goes like this: We decrease the surface tension on the hands (with soap) to aid in the mechanical dislodgement of microbes (and dirt) which is accomplished by friction created by one surface moving over another and then the force of the running water will send the microbes and dirt down the drain where they can't hurt us. We don't target any specific nanobugsin this process - we just get rid of as many as possible. We don't have to kill them - just get rid of them. In fact, as you add antibacterial agents to liquid soaps you can irritate the skin cells at the same time. And it is really important to maintain the integrity of skin - rough dry skin allows more hiding places for microbes. Then we need more friction and chemicals to remove them.
Bar vs. liquid? Bar soap works perfectly fine for doing the job of producing a lather and decreasing surface tension on the hands. But the bar must be rubbed and the soap distributed to all surfaces of the hands and wrists. But the problem with bar soap is the "between uses". Bacteria like a warm dark moist environment to grow and thrive. The soap becomes contaminated as you rub it with dirty hands. It is best to lightly rinse the bar before you put it back in the soap dish. The bar should be placed in a draining soap dish so the surface has a chance to dry. If the bar sits in a puddle of water between uses that soupy mess can incubate bacteria and you can be adding more bacteria to your hands when you begin washing. Not good. But nowadays it is hard to find just plain hand soap without all the antibacterial agents. I prefer a bar of soap kept in a good draining soap dish. But I keep liquid in a pump at each sink for my guests and grandchildren. Bars of olive oil soap are great in the kitchen and Ivory soap is easy on the hands and cheap but can quickly get mushy in a non-draining soap dish. Don't buy huge bars of any soap - they tend to crack over time and they are too large for hands of children and so they tend to skip the soap. I found a unique soap for teaching good handwashing techniques and promoting handwashing in children especially. It is called Squid Soap. I bought it at the gift shop at BryanLGH Medical Center here in Lincoln. It is a liquid soap (not antibacterial formula) that has a little added feature.: on the top of the dispenser there is a small orange dot "ink pad". SO when the child presses down on the plunger a small orange dot is inked onto the palm. With proper washing for 15 seconds and adequate friction - the dot disappears. If you don't want the inking experience you can cover the ink dot with the transparent cap and pump the soap as with any dispenser. Another little perk - a soft squid toy comes with the dispenser. It is easily detached and can be a tub toy for toddlers. This is more than you wanted to know about soap, I bet.
This entry was posted on August 24th, 2007 at 8:47 am. RSS
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