4 larger hand washing errors that could increase germs and viruses
Adequate hand washing could save a million lives per year, according to an expert, and yet, many people are doing it incorrectly, often due to wrong concepts that surround the practice.
Doctors recommend washing with water and water for at least 20 seconds to reduce the spread of infectious diseases.
The NFID 2025 hand washing status report, recently published by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, provides details on the handling habits of Americans (and errors).
Why his laundry could be sick and what to do about it
The report is based on a survey of 3,587 American adults, made in November and December 2024 and March 2025.
Robert Hopkins Jr., MD, NFID medical director in Maryland, spoke with News Digital about what Americans are doing wrong when it comes to hand washing.
1. Just using hand disinfectant
“We have to admit that there are a series of important infections that hands are not effective to prevent,” said Hopkins.
Adequate hand washing could save a million lives a year, according to experts. (Istock)
An example is Norovirus, a very contagious stomach virus that is common in cruises and also spreads seasonally.
The virus cannot be killed with disinfectant for hands, but “easily destroyed” with soap and soap, according to Hopkins.
A common murderer is to endanger Americans: ‘Pandemia in sight’
Certain viruses are “encapsulated” and can be destroyed with soap and soap or disinfectant for hands, said the expert. However, there is also a “non -encapsulated” type of virus, which has an outer layer that does not break down from alcohol in the disinfectant for the hand.
Using soap and water is a more effective way to kill germs, the doctor said.
2. Simply coughing in your manga
When people cough or sneeze in the sleeve, they could still extend the germs later.
“If you cough in the sleeve … Continue and wash your hands with water and water too,” Hopkins advised.
Common medical test linked to 5% of cancers, suggests the study: ‘Use them wisely’
“We also have to admit that we often approach our hands near our face, we touch our nose, our glasses, other parts of our face,” said the doctor, based in Arkansas.
“If we have bacteria or viruses in our hands, we can introduce them into our mucous membranes, where we can obtain infections.”
Almost half of the respondents admitted having forgotten or choosing not to wash their hands in the key moments. (Istock)
3. Wash the hands more in certain seasons
The NFID report stated that one in four respondents washed their hands more frequently in autumn and winter, when cold and flu prevail.
“The seasonal variance is understandable since some respiratory diseases, including the flu and the respiratory syncitial virus (RSV), tend to reach their maximum point during autumn and winter,” the report said.
Click here to register in our health newsletter
“However, other germs, such as those that cause colds, norovirus and other infectious diseases, can spread throughout the year. It is important to maintain proper hygiene of the hands throughout the year to help stay healthy.”
4. Do not wash your hands at critical moments
Most adults wash their hands after using the bathroom (69%), handling food (48%) and handling human or animals (39%), according to the NFID report.
“We need to strengthen the importance of this simple tool.”
However, only 30% of respondents reported that they are likely to wash their hands after sneezing or coughing.
Almost half of the respondents admitted having forgotten or choosing not to wash their hands at the key moments, such as visiting a grocery store, restaurant, medical office, pharmacy, clinic or hospital.
“I think that most public health campaigns around the hygiene of the hands have focused on health environments,” said a doctor. (Istock)
“We need to strengthen the importance of this simple tool,” Hopkins said on hand washing.
“I think that most public health campaigns around the hygiene of the hands have focused on health environments,” he added.
Click here to get the News application
With respect to hand washing as a practice in general, Hopkins emphasized: “We need to bring this back to the fold.”
For more health articles, visit www.Newsnews.com/health
“If everyone washed their hands more consistently, we could probably save somewhere in the neighborhood of one million lives a year.”
Khloe Quill is a lifestyle production assistant with News Digital. She and the lifestyle team cover a variety of stories issues that include food and drink, travel and health.