Plain Soap as a Natural Method of Infection Prevention

It is estimated that 80 percent of communicable illnesses are spread through touch but only about 30 percent of adults wash their hands after using the toilet and still fewer wash thoroughly. The very people who ought to know better are among the worst offenders. Nosocomial infections, or those occurring as the result of hospital caregivers not washing properly, kill 30,000 people each year and sicken another 70,000. In fact, the CDC estimates that as many as 15% of all hospital patients catch some type of nosocomial infection. The vast majority of these illnesses and deaths could easily be prevented by careful, deliberate handwashing with plain soap and clean water.

As early as the 1840s a few doctors were championing handwashing to limit disease transmission. In 1843 American physician Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes created a scandal in his workplace by requiring handwashing as a means to prevent childbed fever. Dr Holmes believed that this disease, which killed up to 25% of women delivering in hospitals, was transmitted to women by their physicians. Dr. Holmes wasn't alone in his crusade. A few years later an Austrian, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, observed delivery room death rates of women assisted by medical students to be up to 3 times higher than the death rates of women assisted by midwives. Dr. Semmelweis correctly guess that the medical students were carrying germs from the autopsy rooms right into the delivery rooms. His program of using chlorinated water to wash his medical students' hands brought the mortality rate down to less than 1%. Unfortunately his colleagues were enraged by his actions and ordered the handwashing to stop.

Though handwashing was important in years past, it is equally vital today. Sixty percent of America's children are under six years of age and many of them spend a great deal of time in day care or preschool where they are at increased risk for diarrhea illnesses such as rotavirus. According to the FDA, diarrhea is 30 percent more common in day-care children than preschoolers cared for at home. In America the diarrhea from rotavirus is usually short lived but in other parts of the world it is major cause of death in children under five, killing an estimated 5 million children a year.

Diarrhea-borne diseases aren't the only issues that a well designed handwashing campaign could help. According to the CDC 22 million schools days are lost each year just to the common cold. Not surprisingly, children who exercise proper handwashing habits miss less school than those who don't. Elementary school children practicing good handwashing technique miss 2.42 days a year while children the same age practicing inadequate handwashing habits miss 3.02 days per school year.

In 2004 the Karachi Health Soap Study studied the effects of handwashing education in 36 Pakistani neighborhoods. Researchers found that children who received plain soap along with handwashing instructions had a 53% lower incidence of diarrhea (and a shorter duration of diarrhea when it occurred) than children in the control group. The study also showed antibacterial soaps to be no more effective at reducing diarrhea episodes than plain soap.

The Karachi Health Soap Study confirmed the suspicions of many in the natural health industry. Diligent handwashing programs clearly lower the risk of diarrhea illnesses but antibacterial soaps and bath products are unnecessary for most families. Some in the natural products industry have even feared that the every-day use of germ killing products may eventually lead to the development of resistant strains of bacteria. A study by Tufts University looked at the effect of Triclosan, the chemical that makes products antibacterial, on E. coli bacterium. Researchers discovered that Triclosan kills by acting upon a specific bacterial gene. This discovery seems to prove that the threat of future resistance is very real.

Unlike antibacterial soaps, which actually kill germs, traditional soaps work mainly by removing germs. The mechanical action of rubbing your hands together dislodges germs so that running water can flush them away.

Concerns about creating resistant strains of bacteria have led some disease experts to recommend plain soap and clean water as a disease transmission preventative. Whether those fears are well founded or not it seems indisputable that deliberate, frequent handwashing with plain soap and water is an effective way to protect against person-to-person transmission of some of the most common communicable diseases.

Lisa Barger is a traditionally trained naturopath specializing in illness prevention. For information about Ms. Barger's free seminars for churches, day cares and non-profit organizations please see our web site at http://www.LisaBarger.com.

---

Constipation Remedy Using Citrus Juice

Citrus JuicesCitrus juices are a constipation remedy that is an... Read More

How Toxic Is Your Home?

We like to think of our homes as being a... Read More

The Benefits of Drinking Mangosteen (XanGo)

Benefits of Drinking XanGo:The Mangosteen fruit (XanGo's main ingredient) is... Read More

Alternative Treatments For Arthritis Pain Relief

Natural, herbal remedies can help arthritis sufferers who have tried... Read More

How To Rid Your Home Of The Nations #1 Health Menace

With today's new building procedures, our homes are more dangerous... Read More

Ginger for Upset Stomach

The common ginger root used in cooking has been found... Read More

Magnetic Therapy: The Facts (and Some Myths)

Is magnet therapy regarded yet as a mainstream therapy? I... Read More

Herbs and Essential Oils ? Powerful Medicine

We can find many beneficial uses for natural herbs and... Read More

Aloe Vera - The Medicine And Beauty Treatment Of Choice For Millenniums

I can remember as a young boy that my grandmother... Read More

Achieve Instant Calm

For instant calm, try one or more of the following... Read More

Getting Rid Of Gallstones Naturally

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that sits on... Read More

Test Your Indoor Air Quality!

How safe is your Indoor Air?1) Does your home have... Read More

Static Magnetic Therapy: Does It Really Work?

Recently, a number of articles have been published on static... Read More

Exercise: Tai Chi for Mind, Body, and Spirit

The practice of Tai Chi combines flowing movement and breathing... Read More

St Johns Wort: The Magickal Herb

It was customary in Britain and Europe on St John's... Read More

Natural Aphrodisiacs - The Right Way

Aphrodisiacs are amongst the oldest cures, being ones of the... Read More

Air Purifiers, Are They Worth The Money?

When you suffer from allergies or asthma, you may think... Read More

The Health Care Crisis - and a Solution

We are presently facing a health care crisis that is... Read More

Migraines Are The Great Equalizers

Migraine headaches must be one of the great equalizers that... Read More

Cleaners And Our Health

Many people use strong cleaners or acid cleaners to make... Read More

The Many Uses of Mint

There are many varieties of mint plants. If you want... Read More

Oral Chelation ? What Can It Do For You? (Part 2)

Intravenous chelation therapy was more popular than oral chelation initially.... Read More

Ayurveda - Principles & Practice

Ayurveda which has been evolved around 600 BC, apart from... Read More

Pyrethre: Pest Terminator

HistoryThe pyrethre herb is supposedly named after a famous temple... Read More

The Healing Power of Water Gardens

If you experienced a day filled with running from one... Read More

All Natural Shampoo - 5 Tips

All Natural Shampoo - 5 Tips Here are 5 tips... Read More

Alcohol : How Badly Can It Affect Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Sufferers?

The wonders of alcohol. The achilles heel for many people.... Read More

Immunological Profile In Postpartum Women

Post-delivery, the whole of immune system is restored to normalcy... Read More

Aromatherapy

Although the word aromatherapy has not been around forever, the... Read More

Why Do So Many People Seem To Have Allergies?

Allergies and asthma arise from loss of the body's natural... Read More

10 Essential Food Safety Tips For AIDS Sufferers

Persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are especially susceptible to... Read More

The Subconscious Mind As Teacher: Why It Can Help You Relieve Your Pain

Many disciplines are designed to program the subconscious. But except... Read More

Plastic Acupuncture?

Plastic Acupuncture, abbreviated as (P.Ac) is not really a new... Read More