The bacteriologist reminded about the risks of hand transmission of infections

The usual handshake can become one of the ways to transmit infections if you do not follow basic hygiene rules. Vera Bondarchuk, director of the Microbiological research department at the LabQuest laboratory, a bacteriologist, told Izvestia about this on May 15.

According to the expert, during the day, human hands repeatedly come into contact with surfaces that may contain bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogenic microorganisms. Among the most common sources of pollution are door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, telephones, money, and bank terminals.

The expert explained that by itself, contact with a contaminated surface does not mean infection. The risk arises when a person touches their face, eyes, nose, lips, or takes food with their hands after shaking hands.

Bondarchuk called the most dangerous situation when a person did not wash his hands after going to the toilet. In this case, microscopic impurities and pathogens of intestinal infections may remain on the skin, which are then easily transmitted to another person through contact. This creates conditions for the spread of infections by the faecal-oral route.

"Salmonellosis, shigellosis, rotavirus and norovirus infections can be transmitted through contaminated hands. Such diseases can be especially severe in children, the elderly, pregnant women and patients with weakened immune systems," the expert explained.

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She singled out hepatitis A, which is often referred to as dirty hands disease. The virus spreads through contaminated hands, food, water, and common items, and shaking hands can become part of this chain of transmission. Also, Bondarchuk noted, the spread of respiratory viruses is possible through the hands. If a person covers a cough with his hand or wipes his nose, and then touches another person's hand or a common surface, the virus can enter the mucous membranes through subsequent contact with the face.

Touching the eyes after contact with potentially contaminated hands is particularly dangerous. This can lead to the development of conjunctivitis and other inflammatory diseases.

The specialist added that some skin infections can spread through touching, especially if there are lesions, inflammations or signs of fungal lesions on the skin. At the same time, the doctor stressed that you should not perceive every handshake as a threat. According to her, the main method of prevention remains regular hand washing after street, transport, going to the toilet, contact with animals, as well as before eating and cooking.

"Hand hygiene is not a matter of increased anxiety or squeamishness, but a basic sanitary measure that significantly reduces the risk of transmission of infections," the expert concluded.

Evgenia Daeva, an infectious disease specialist from St. Petersburg, said on May 8 that working on a site without gloves, a person can damage their skin, injure their hand on objects in the ground or get abrasions. The danger persists when walking barefoot: you can step on a sharp object, including a rusty nail. If the summer resident does not have a planned vaccination, the risk of the disease increases significantly. Tetanus is a severe infection that can lead to serious complications.