Contributor: Mita Q. Sison-Duque
AS PONTIUS PILATE symbolically washed his hands when Jesus was brought to him for judgment at the Crucifixion, the act of washing one’s hand meant non-involvement.
“This man is innocent,” he said, but gave Jesus to the crowd to decide on what to do with Him. Since then, the washing of one’s hand has brought to fore, the importance of such act, to symbolize not only spiritual welfare, but more commonly today, for our physical well-being.
In the 1600s in Vienna, a medical student observed that so many women who had delivered babies in the hospital were dying, while richer women who delivered their babies at home with the assistance of a private physician, had higher average of survival.
Spending time to observe what could be the cause, he concluded that medical students who were carrying germs straight from the autopsy room where they performed dissections, to the maternity wards where they delivered babies, were the culprits. When he discovered this, the medical student named Ignaz Semmilien pushed for handwashing.
Dramatically, childbed fever in that hospital became non-existent. Unfortunately however, his discovery was never given proper recognition as his superiors never acknowledged the innovation the medical student fought hard to introduce. On the contrary, they became jealous and in fact drove him out of Vienna, burying the handwashing theory in the process. Immediately, childbed fever went to the rise again, causing unnecessary deaths. Sadly, distraught over the failure of the medical profession to accept his discovery, he died in an insane asylum at age 57, ironically of an infection he got after performing an autopsy.
Germs, the culprit of our illnesses can after all be the number one killer in the planet especially so if our immunity is low, we don’t eat right, we don’t sleep at least seven hours a day, exercise right and yes, wash our hands, to avoid illness or transmitting diseases.
Handwashing is as important to our health as any of the health care guidelines. The correct procedure is that one must wash one’s hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Rub in between the fingers, the top and palm of our hands and under the fingernails, the friction being the reason which zaps off the germs. The rinsing for an additional 5-10 seconds completes the process. How does one measure 20-25 seconds it takes to have clean, germ free hands? How does one measure 20 seconds comfortably without watching the clock? Humming the “Happy birthday to you” in one’s head takes about that time to wash one’s hands.
The common cold virus, the most common of infections, can survive up to three days outside the nasal passage on objects and surfaces. Seventy percent of people with colds carry infectious germs on their hands which brings us to handshakes and how germ and bacteria are transferred especially during a cold and flu epidemic. Hand sanitizers common in hospital and some hotels are good handwashes, but unless we use them full strength and regularly, we only move the germs, and worst, we mutate the bacteria. The idea is to kill the germs rather than move them around and thus make them even stronger when someone is sick in the house. During the rainy season when flu is prevalent, the flu virus does not have to go around if we are careful. Disinfecting light switches, phones, TV remote control, microwave handles, refrigerators handles, kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, and floor faucet handles, is important.
Doorknobs are harmless to the naked eye, but are constant transmitters of diseases. Ironically, the hospitals are high in infection rates. Florida in the USA is one of the first states to release figures on how many people acquire infections at individual hospitals.
The supermarkets and their carts are bedrocks of germs and bacteria. A University of Arizona study revealed shopping carts failed more hygiene tests than public restrooms, with 54 percent of them tested positive for blood, urine, mucus and saliva. Use a disinfecting wipe to clean at least the cart handle and wash your hands thoroughly before eating anything that is store bought. Meat handling is important and should be imposed as easy to contaminate. Fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed to ensure they are germfree.
Even our spas where we seek health are sources of germs and bacteria.
In the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is concerned about a drug resistant bacteria called methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) becoming more and more resistant in athletic settings. Right now, MRSA is resistant to 20 different anti-bacteria and doctors are left with limited treatment options. Of course, here in the Philippines, “what we don’t know wouldn’t hurt us”, in the absence of high powered machines and expertise to detect the enemy. However, at best we can start with the simplest form of prevention, the 20 second hand washing with soap and water that is available to us. Not that we should be germophobic, but that we do what we can to prevent which in the end affects our national production, economy and quality of life.
(Note: Mita Duque is married to Dr. Salvador T. Duque, M.D., Chancellor of Lyceum Northwestern University (a family-owned university in Dagupan City) and brother of Health Secretary Dr. Francisco T. Duque III. They are blessed with six children, who are all physicians practising in the United States. Mita, who writes for the Manila Bulletin and local newspapers in Pangasinan, one of which is People’s Digest Newsweekly, published and edited by the author of this blog, has two published books: Embracing the Sun and In the Beginning: A Nation, A President)
The story of the medical student is tragic and sad. No wonder he went mental.
I don’t carry with me a hand sanitizer all the time but I’m very particular in using handles of jeepneys and escalators. I normally don’t use or touch them.
Germs and bacteria are everywhere. We inhale them everyday and I believe that even though we wash our hands religiously, we are still prone to sickness. I agree that it’s imperative to boost the immune system. I think this is the more important thing
Sanitation and a strong immune system are two most important safeguards against diseases.
Ano kaya, Verns, if we carry around a tube of Lysol spray everywhere we go? Naah….That would be too OC, don’t you think? hehehe.
Kawawa naman yung med student. I’m all for washing your hands. Since I cannot do it everytime I just make sure I’m always carrying a hand sanitiser. Minsan naiisip ko borderline OC na ko talaga
Auee, buti na yung OC kaysa magsisi.. Uy, nag-rhyme yata yun, a…
Yes, I agree with you. Washing our hands as often as we can is one of the best ways to ward off illnesses.
very interesting article Rhodora
It’s a particularly good habit to keep
Thanks, Pining! Yes, indeed, it is!
Nakakaawa naman yung medical student na yun.. Closed-minded pa ata ang mga tao noon talaga kahit sa medical profession..
I dont really bring hand sanitizers with me.. Nakikihingi lang sa friends hehe
Tita I’ll be posting our pretty pic soon
Mica, waaah! I-photoshop mo muna bago mo i-post! hahaha!
The story about the medical student is so sad … But it was a good article. I think it’s a good habit to keep.
I guess this means that we all have to start wearing gloves in public… rubber gloves preferably.
It is indeed sad, Kyels. Professional jealousy can be lethal, don’t you think?
Sngl, I think that’s a good idea. Now, you made me think of a good business - selling gloves!
the first thing i do before i take a pee is wash my hands, and after i take a pee, i wash my hands again.
the other day, i saw a friend of mine grab a wipe and used it to clean cart’s handle. for a while, i didn’t know that the wet wipes were available. so from now on, i will be disinfecting the cart before i grab on the handle.
Belle, it’s good they have wet wipes available! However, I think you have to wipe the handles real well to eradicate the bacteria. Kasi kung konting pahid lang, baka di rin matanggal.
I wash my hands very frequently… but mali pala. I don’t sing Happy Birthday.
Hehe, that would be a good money-making venture. Although being too clean isn’t good for one’s health too. Our immune system is there for a reason you know…
now i was thinking of a less-offensive to the environment disinfectants.
siguro sa panahon ngayon matututo tayong mandiri, kasi sari sari na talga ang mikrobyo sa paligid. kaya handwashing ng tama ay dapat maging habit na natin.
Toe, then you should sing happy birthday while washing your hands. hehehe.
Yeah, you’re right, Sngl. Take note of those living in the streets. Imagine the bacteria they are exposed to, everyday! And yet, they seem to have grown immune.
Less offensive disinfectants, Dimaks? Hmmm.. you made me think…
Hey, Iskoo! You’re back! Long time, huh!
Ay, totoo yan - we should wash our handss as often as we can. Buti na yung sigurado.
Hand gloves are also good idea if working or dealing with contaminated objects or dirty places like washrooms and places where frequent contact with humans. Hospital emergency rooms and doctor’s waiting rooms are also places where care should be taken and hand sanitizer is one good bottle (the comes in pint size) to be always with in backpack or bags.
One funny story though, I remember during the SARs crisis, our Provincial Health Officer, who was later exposed as incompetent after an inquiry and let go, as he was more concern of how he would look in every day briefings, would only tell the Public to “Wash our Hands Frequently”(that was all) and can’t help laughing, because grandma been telling us that since…that one we were not prepared at all, got quarantined just being in the same place as the suspect in a lab, how they knew, i don’t know…
Hi, Vic!
Well, in the case of SARS, I guess hand washing was not the only thing that was emphasized, as the need for masks was also underscored.
A hand sanitizer, especially when traveling, can be helpful.
I blogged about this before, that I was sensitized to this idea when I saw strict handwashing rules when I took a boat cruise, that patrons were urged to wash their hands with sanitizers and use napkins to open/close toilet door knobs. It was necessary effort to prevent the NORO virus from infecting the cruise ship. I thijk we should implement this everywhere !
This is such a good resource in prevention against infectious diseases. Mind you, if this is the case, a mindless touch on a cart could probably bring such grievous affectation. Now it’s time that we need to be cautious about such public contraptions and places.
Hand sanitisers … a fad that came and went? I like them .. safeguard used to produce its own line. They just stopped.
Handwashing … that’s elementary hygiene isn’t it especially for those who handle the sick/infected.
I always carry with me a hand sanitizer and sometimes a small bottle of alcohol. It is always best to sanitize our hands. Especially when we commute.
Handwashing is the first thing i learned in health care. the procedure written in my handout is still clearly etched in my mond.
How come you dont visit my blog anymore, rhod?
Wow, can you imagine, BW - how it was in airlines during the SARS threat! Not only in airlines, actually, for even here in the locality - people would wear masks when going to crowded places! Naalala ko tuloy yung movie na “Outbreak”.
You know, Major Tom, what I resent are people who would snicker at others who are conscious about hygiene as “maarte”. What’s being “maarte” about wanting to safeguard yourself and your family from diseases?
Anna, my friend! Yes, the hand sanitizers somewhat became a fad before. I remember carrying a bottle in my bag. But it was really a good one - I could see the dirt being peeled off whenever I rubbed a good amount on my hands.
Yes, weren’t we taught in Health and Science about washing hands before and after eating, after using the toilet and when handling family members sick with contagious diseases? You’re right. It’s elementary.
That’s a good practice, Shasha. However, never ever do the mistake of sanitizing after shaking hands with someone, like Loren Legarda does. hehehe.. I saw it with my own eyes, when she boarded the van after shaking hands with the public, she was profusely rubbing her hands with alcohol. Sana, isinara muna niya ang pinto… hehehe.
Richmond, being a diligent Nursing student that you are - I’m sure you know very well your handwashing procedure especially when attending at the OR.
Oh, sorry my dear - been preoccupied lately that my blog visits are so limited… but I am going to visit your blog right now… see ya!
minsan kailangan ma-expose ka sa germs for your body to react and defend against them. i discovered i have antibodies for hepatitis a few years ago and it only means i was already exposed to the virus but my body was able to react possitively
not so for other people
Inviting Dr Duque to guest blog is a very good and welcome idea. thanks to her for a very informative post. as to germs/bacteria, they are everywhere, we just do not know when we will become victims. yes, better be careful and take precautions than sorry, but not to be OC (nag rhyme din)
I have a small bottle of alcohol in my bag plus wet tissues which we use especially when we are in public places which we use liberally. The moment we arrive home, the children go directly to the bathroom to wash their hands. Better teach them when they are young.
Thank you Dr. Duque for this wonderful post. Thanks Rhoda for inviting her.