Hand washing is the number one thing you can do to prevent the spread of germs and microbials. The general rule of thumb is to scrub your hands for as long as it takes to hum happy birthday to yourself. After you rinse your hands use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the bathroom door.
Handwashing dates back to the 1840's when a Vienna Doctor, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, noticed women were dying at alarming rates in the student delivery room, but not in the midwifery rooms. The situation was so bad women were afraid to be seen by the student interns. Trying to assertain the reason for the deaths Dr. Semmelweis noticed the students were coming directly from their autopsy class to the delivery room. He promptly ordered all his students to scrub their hands before entering the delivery room. Overtime the mortality rate dropped to about 1%.
It's quite a jump from a delivery room to preparing your own dinner, but it's clear from this story that germs are easily spread by the hands, so be cautious if you can.
Handwashing dates back to the 1840's when a Vienna Doctor, Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis, noticed women were dying at alarming rates in the student delivery room, but not in the midwifery rooms. The situation was so bad women were afraid to be seen by the student interns. Trying to assertain the reason for the deaths Dr. Semmelweis noticed the students were coming directly from their autopsy class to the delivery room. He promptly ordered all his students to scrub their hands before entering the delivery room. Overtime the mortality rate dropped to about 1%.
It's quite a jump from a delivery room to preparing your own dinner, but it's clear from this story that germs are easily spread by the hands, so be cautious if you can.