As we now know, bacteria are increasingly resistant to the existing range of antibiotics. This ” antibiotic resistance Is considered a real public health issue because it kills tens of thousands of people every year. In an attempt to limit this phenomenon, doctors keep recommending that antibiotics be used wisely in order to avoid developing resistance. But, of course, they are still useful in controlling the spread of bacteria. And the first thing to do to limit the spread of these bacteria would simply be to stop shaking hands to say hello!
A very serious epidemiological study published in the journal Journal of hospital infection recommends to all the people who work in a hospital environment or who come to visit a hospitalized person, not to shake hands any more but to adopt the “check” of the teenagers. Touching your fist would limit the transmission of bacteria, which are much more numerous in the palms of our hands than on our knuckles!
The team of researchers from the University of Virginia (United States), which led this study, affirms: “up to 80% of individuals keep on their fingers and in the palm, even after washed hands, bacteria capable of transmitting diseases ”. They measured that shaking hands exposes 3 times more skin surface than touching fists and that this gesture lasts almost three times longer. “Touching your fists as a gesture of greeting can easily lead to a decrease in transmission of bacteria and improve the health and safety of patients and staff ”insist the researchers who would like to recommend this gesture also outside the hospital … while understanding that it may be a little complicated because they refuse to shake hands with someone. one is still considered a mark of rudeness.
