Guest Columnist
Back to School, and Back to Germs?
By
Aug 25, 2010 - 3:40:56 PM

A Microbiologist’s Tips to Keep the Kids Healthy and Germ Free this Fall

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - For many households across the country, back to school means back to germs, viruses, colds, infections and all of the misery that goes along with them. Schools are literally breeding grounds for hundreds of different viruses and strains of bacteria. Many can survive on a hard surface for several hours, and others up to a full day.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that nearly 22 million school days are lost each year due to school-acquired infections. This year, we face the possible threat of NDM-1, a new antibiotic-resistant superbug that has been making its way around the globe and may arrive in the U.S. just in time for the new school year. Add to this the ongoing threat of Staph (including MRSA) as well as H1N1, seasonal flu, and many others, and it points to a serious need to disinfect properly from dangerous microbes that are invisible to the naked eye.

Staying safe this school year comes down to following a few simple rules, sorting through a lot of misinformation, and grasping important nuances about how products really work.

This is no easy task as consumers are presented with an increasing number of disinfectants, all claiming that no other product can match its efficacy. In fact, the CDC estimates that there are currently more than 700 antibacterial products on the market today. This is up from only a few dozen in the mid-1990s. Ironically, antibacterial products, while effective, have raised red flags in the scientific community as their overuse is widely attributed to the creation of the modern superbug. So, consumers may be killing the short-term problem but fueling an even larger one.

There’s also a lot of misinformation in the market about what is truly effective against various pathogens, and what isn’t. For instance, popular alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective against bacteria, but will not kill a virus. Although it's true that alcohol makes your hands inhospitable to viruses (reducing the amount of the virus that will cling to your hands), the threat of the virus remains. However, because the alcohol has a drying effect on skin, some people may not use enough of the product or with the required frequency to be effective.

In fact, there are several nuances about hard surface disinfectants that consumers really don't understand.

* Become a "Label Reader" - Although cleaning products do not have conforming standards for labeling and claims, the labels of sanitizers and disinfectants are strictly regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Consumers should become educated by reading labels on products to ascertain the active ingredients, kill times and warning statements on disinfectants and sanitizers.

* Don't just Spray and Wipe - Many consumers just "spray and wipe" when cleaning. Be careful to use products as directed, which usually requires spraying and waiting up to 10 minutes to properly kill pathogens.

* Choose "Green" Cleaners Wisely - "Green" cleaners are often made of a plant-based surfactant, and do not contain chlorine, phosphates, or petrochemical ingredients. They are effective against dirt and grime, but may not kill dangerous pathogens. For example, PURE Bioscience makes an ionic silver-based cleaning product, called IV-7, that is EPA registered and meets CDC recommended standards to kill a range of pathogens on a hard surface without the use of toxic chemicals.

* Be Careful with Harsh Chemical Products - Consumers are rightfully worried about using cleaning products because of the inherent risks involved with exposure to traditional toxic chemicals. When using harsh chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, be sure to take appropriate precautions: wear gloves and a mask, create ventilation if possible (opening windows and/or running the exhaust fan), and be sure to keep children, pets and family members with respiratory problems away from the room in which you're using the products.

* Wash your hands regularly – Make hand washing a regular part of the daily routine, especially before meals or at bedtime, when children are most likely to touch their eyes, nose and mouth. Warm, soapy water is still one of the best defenses against the transmission of some of the most dangerous pathogens out there. It’s generally recommended that kids spend at least 20 seconds at the sink (or as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice) to stay clean.

* Donate Disinfecting Products to your School – Most teachers end up cleaning and disinfecting their classrooms themselves, and pay for cleaning products out of pocket. Give your teachers a break, and donate cleaning products you would use at home to keep your kids safe at school.

Dolana Blount is Senior Microbiologist and Director of Regulatory Affairs for PURE Bioscience, a developer of technology-based bioscience products that provide non-toxic solutions to numerous global health challenges. PURE’s proprietary high efficacy/low toxicity bioscience technologies, including its silver dihydrogen citrate-based antimicrobials, represent innovative advances in diverse markets and lead today’s global trend toward industry and consumer use of “green” products while providing competitive advantages in efficacy and safety.

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