Too Much of a Good Thing?
Posted by Sean on November 28, 2008
Hand gels: Are they replacing soap and water? – CNN.com
I ate dirt and I liked it. (Seriously, mud pies were a delicacy in my neck of the woods as a kid)
I’d come home from dinner and never wash my hands before eating, and while eating I’m pretty sure I licked my fingers – while they were full of dirt and grime.
I washed my hands when I was told. I washed my hands when they were filthy, but I was still a kid.
And I rarely had the common cold. Yes I did get sick, but not habitually.
(We also walked up hill both ways to school in 10 feet snow one way in our bare feet) 
No seriously.
I’m a healthcare professional, and you don’t have to remind or educate me on the importance of clean hands, but lately things have changed.
Now a days I see individuals, mostly parents, carrying around their portable hand sanitizer gel everywhere. In the restaurant, in the shopping center, at the department store, etc. I see these hand sanitizers pretty much anywhere John Q. Public resides.
It truly amazes me how parents slather copious amounts of this stuff on their children’s hands repeatedly.
Yet, In my personal experience, it seems children these days are acquiring the sniffles more often than anyone would like to admit?
I have a personal friend who has multiple bottles of this stuff in her purse at all times. When we are out with her kids, she practically bathes them in this stuff.
Yet, I continually hear about how many visits she makes to the pediatrician. Treating everything from the run-of-the-mill common cold, to full blown bilateral ear infections.
Could the over-kill of hand-sanitizer have SOMETHING to do with the increase in illness?
Has anyone ever heard of antibiotic resistance?
How about these super bugs called MRSA? VRE? (Ever heard of Acinetobacter)?
So can there be too much of a good thing?
Things that make me go Hmm.. 
Carpe Diem
NurseExec said
Personally, I hate the stuff, and prefer good, old, soap and water. Use too much of that gel and no amount of super hand lotion will get the dry out, LOL!
Strong One said
@ Karin, RN I understand completely. It does make you wonder though.
Strong One said
@ Karin, RN I understand completely. It does make you wonder though.
Karin, RN said
Well, I am partially guilty of this one. I carry antimicrobial gel in my bag, van…anywhere–to church, to hiking…I refused to claim I overuse the thing, just when we expect to use our hands to put food or the holy bread in our mouth and water’s not available for handwashing. My son got sick twice this year, and my daughter remained healthy. I think we’re OK. As far as overdoing the use, I agree some use it too much and make oneself sensitive when the bug actually sneaks it–talk about not building resistance to common bugs.
Karin, RN said
Well, I am partially guilty of this one. I carry antimicrobial gel in my bag, van…anywhere–to church, to hiking…I refused to claim I overuse the thing, just when we expect to use our hands to put food or the holy bread in our mouth and water’s not available for handwashing. My son got sick twice this year, and my daughter remained healthy. I think we’re OK. As far as overdoing the use, I agree some use it too much and make oneself sensitive when the bug actually sneaks it–talk about not building resistance to common bugs.
Strong One said
@ NurseExec You are absolutely right. Soap and water win every time.
Strong One said
@ NurseExec You are absolutely right. Soap and water win every time.
Strong One said
@ May Good point! LOL. I’m not a big fan of the foam.
Strong One said
@ May Good point! LOL. I’m not a big fan of the foam.
may said
i wash my hands even if i don’t really want to, and i still get sick. so go figure.
i’m tired of washing, but i love those foamy hand sanitizers on the hospital walls.
may said
i wash my hands even if i don’t really want to, and i still get sick. so go figure.
i’m tired of washing, but i love those foamy hand sanitizers on the hospital walls.
NurseExec said
Personally, I hate the stuff, and prefer good, old, soap and water. Use too much of that gel and no amount of super hand lotion will get the dry out, LOL!
Strong One said
@ Caroline You do the same!
Strong One said
@ Caroline You do the same!
Caroline said
I have wondered about this, myself.
Thanks for the post and Happy Thanksgiving!
Caroline said
I have wondered about this, myself.
Thanks for the post and Happy Thanksgiving!