Staying healthy at Disney/Antibacterial soaps

[SuzyQue]

I can't find the thread that was running on this so I'm not sure if I'm posting on the right board (feel free to move me). I had been refilling the Meijer brand antibac. soap in my purse from a Purell bottle I had at home. I noticed the Meijer bottle had an Exp. date on it, so I checked the Purell bottle and it did also (it was an old bottle). Today when I went to buy more, I noticed the Purell bottles no longer carry an Exp. date, but the bottle of Germ-X that I bought does have one. Does anyone know does this stuff really expire (ethyl alcohol)? ~~

 

[Terk-1]

Not sure if I can help you with this one. I get the little bottles of anti-bacterial soaps from Bath & Body Works and don't recall seeing expiration dates on them.

 

[Mark P.]

Hi,
Do these really help to kill the germs? I think I read that certain brands do the job, and if so, what brands are they? And is the key ingredient ethyl alcohol?

I know there are different opinions on this, but the infectious disease nurse at my work said that it's not a good idea to kill all the bacteria on our hands, as some of it is necessary.

Makes sense to me, but both DS(7) and I got horribly sick while at WDW last year with some kind of stomach virus, and I'm leaning on the side of using some kind anti-bacterial stuff for our trip in May, but not sure what kind will do the job.

 

[Talking Hands]

The best defense against bacteria is not antibacterial gels but good old fashioned hand washing with soap and water. WASH YOUR HANDS people. The antibacterial gels can dry your hands badly and causes cracks the open you up to bacteria rather than prevent it from being a problem.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Talking Hands
The best defense against bacteria is not antibacterial gels but good old fashioned hand washing with soap and water. WASH YOUR HANDS people. The antibacterial gels can dry your hands badly and causes cracks the open you up to bacteria rather than prevent it from being a problem.

I couldn't agree more! Antibacterial gels do nothing to prevent viral illnesses. The best defense is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap several times a day and to keep your hands away from your face. Easy to say, but hard to do!

 

[honeymo78]

Here's another reason why anitbacterial gels aren't a great idea. Many people I know in the medical profession have said that the more antibacterials we use, the more the germs adapt and become resistant to treatment, including medications. I agree with washing your hands with soap and water.

 

[Puffy2]

I carried the gels to use when we had nothing else (better than nothing), but I also used lysol wipes to wipe down the hotel room when we first checked in.

I did this mainly to try (even if in vain) to keep my friend healthy while on vacation since she is very prone to illness due to a medical condition. We had a villa and I wiped down the kitchen, the bathroom and the sinks - especially handles, etc... I even loaded and ran the dishwasher (although I'm sure that had already been done).
We had a great trip and no illness. The only thing I wish I had taken and didn't was face masks (like they use in hospitals) for the airplane in case we were seated next to "sneezing -coughing people" - I know that sounds crazy but for a person who is immumo- compromised the sound of a sneezing coughing person right next to you on an airplane is a fearful situation.

 

[Kallison]

What concerns me more is the plane ride to get there. I always carry bacterial wipes in a plastic baggie and wipe everything the kids will touch.

As for the gels, they are handy when you are traveling in the parks and can't always wash your hands continously. They also have antibac travel wipes. Have a good trip.

 

[SuzyQue]

Yes I agree that hand washing is the best defense, but there are so many things you touch after the hand washing (faucet handles, restroom door, chairs you sit it, menus, salt & pepper) that it just makes me feel better to use the antibac. soap before touching any food that's going in my mouth. Just was wondering if it expired or not. ~~

 

[SueM in MN]

To answer the original question: alcohol doesn't expire, but the other ingredients (like moisturizers) might have an expiration date. In some of the products, it's not really that they go bad, just that the moisturizers aren't stable to stay in solution forever.

Many people I know in the medical profession have said that the more antibacterials we use, the more the germs adapt and become resistant to treatment, including medications.

This is true, but antibacterial soaps are the problem, not the waterless hand sanitizers. The ingredients in the antibacterial soaps work against germs in a similar manner to antibiotics (and they are what leads to resistance in germs). Alcohol works in a different way and has not led to resistance.
Many hospitals (including the system I work for) have pretty much gotten rid of antimicrobial soaps and are using just regular lotion soap for times when hands are visibly soiled or actually have body fluids on them. When we need to disinfect our hands (if not visibly soiled or after hand washing), we use alcohol hand sanitizers. That is what the newest Center for Disease Control guidleines for hand hygiene in hospitals recommend.

The antibacterial gels can dry your hands badly and causes cracks the open you up to bacteria rather than prevent it from being a problem.

They have done a number of hand health studies in hospitals and most people's hands actually are in better shape using one of the hand sanitizers (with added moisturizers) than traditional handwashing.

Antibacterial gels do nothing to prevent viral illnesses.

The waterless hand antiseptics (some are labeled antibacterial gels) use alcohol as their active ingredient. Alcohol kills quickly and does a very good job of killing bacteria, fungii, viruses.

I won't bore you with more (I am an Infection Control Specialist, so this is one of my "pet" subjects), but I did post a lot of information
on this thread if you are interested in more info.

 

[SuzyQue]

I was looking for that thread (didn't mean to start another debate here) so I could post my question on it, but couldn't find it. This time I've copied your reply to Word so I won't lose it. ~~

 

[honeymo78]

Sue
Thanks for the info on the which antibacterials are fine to use. I'll look for the alcohol based ones - I just don't want to contribute to resistant bacteria any more than I have to.