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09
Sep 2020
Scientist’s warning that mass use of hand gel could create new superbugs
A scientist has warned that overusing alcohol-based hand sanitiser could result in certain bacteria adapting to survive the product and go on to create new superbugs that could threaten public health.
The British Institute of Cleaning Science’s head of Scientific Advisory Board Andrew Kemp, said that up until now, it has not been proven that alcohol-based hand sanitising gels could destroy the virus that causes Covid-19 on skin. However, an over-reliance on the product could lead to certain bugs leaning how to survive them and instead thrive on residual sugars and proteins on a person’s hands.
He went on to say that there should instead be a stronger emphasis on washing hands with soap and water, which the World Health Organisation also recognises as the most effective way to protect against infection.
According to the WHO, alcohol-based hand gel should only be used if there is no immediate access to soap and water.
Mr Kemp said that hand gels “should only be used as a last resort, or as a temporary measure if soap and water are not available.”
He went on to say “Even if (hand gels) did kill 99.9 per cent of all bacteria, there can be more than a million bacteria on your hands at any one time, leaving 10,000 alive after sanitisation. These will be in a residue of sugar and protein.
“Recent research shows the surviving bugs which are not killed by alcohol gels are themselves highly dangerous pathogens and may increase in numbers.
“This means our routine use of help could ultimately cause us more harm than good.”
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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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