Let's Talk About Germs--Specifically, How to Kill Them

You may have seen Erin's post this morning about Purell (she's not a fan) and the bad news that she's dealing with MRSA again (we're thinking of you today Erin!!). Read her post for the specifics, but here on Vitamin G, I wanted to discuss germs, and the best way to keep them at bay--on our hands and in our bodies. Here's what you need to know.

First off, did you see this new ad campaign from Purell? It's pretty clever (and gross) and uses illustrations of hand to show just exactly what kinds of germs we carry around on them throughout the day.

OK, on to germ talk. Here's your cheat sheet:

Are hand sanitizers effective? Yes. Hand sanitizers kill most harmful bacteria and viruses. But here's a weird thing: Yours might be impotent if it doesn't contain at least 60 percent alcohol concentration. If it's any less, you're wasting your time with the stuff.

Do hand sanitizers contribute to more germs? No, say experts! Hand sanitizing gel is alcohol based and does not contain antimicrobials. It's the antibacterial hand soap or wipes that you want to stay away from. Some experts believe that these have increased bacteria resistance and contributed to problems like MRSA. But, it's a controversial topic.

How often should I wash my hands? Surprisingly, often. Nope, I'm not telling you to go out and get obsessive about it, but the truth is that germs accumulate on your hands throughout the day (think of signing for the UPS man, shaking hands with coworkers, touching phones, door handles, etc.). Of course, you wash before eating and after using the bathroom (of course you do!), but health experts seem to suggest that frequent hand washing throughout the day isn't such a bad idea (even beyond these times). For instance, I scrub up every time I come home from an outing. I know, a little obsessive. But, I don't want to bring ickies into my home.

What's the best way to prevent catching the superbug? First, stop worrying about it. Our bodies do a great job at fighting the germ war for us! But, you can step up your hand-washing efforts (wash as long as it takes to recite the alphabet, say some experts), use hand sanitizing gel throughout the day and keep your scrapes and wounds covered (entry points for MRSA and other harmful bugs).

How about antibacterial wipes for surfaces? Not so good, say researchers. In fact, one recent study found that those handy-dandy wipes actually may spread germs (including the superbug) around. Your best bet? Use a spray disinfectant on hard surfaces and let it sit for the amount of time recommended on the bottle before wiping down. Sometimes it takes 2 minutes or more to kill those bugs!

Please share your thoughts on germ warfare! What are your favorite germ-fighting strategies?