The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
What is considered proper hand hygiene?
DEAR DR. ROACH >> Everyone knows that they are supposed to wash their hands after using the toilet, but does that advice only apply when using a public toilet? Since whatever came out of the person is technically theirs, do they need to wash their hands at home if they live alone?
— J.A.H.
Yes, you absolutely should wash your hands after using the bathroom each time. Studies clearly show that you get bacteria on your hands while using the bathroom. Washing hands every time reduces the risk of diarrheal illnesses, colds and foodborne illnesses. It’s
DEAR READER >>
poor hand hygiene that leads to most outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses.
Put more directly, you risk infecting others or reinfecting yourself if you don’t wash carefully after using the bathroom. You should wash your hands before using the bathroom if your hands have been someplace where you might contaminate yourself later. This includes preparing food, such as raw meat, or if you have touched somebody who might be sick. Frequent handwashing dramatically reduces the likelihood of getting infections, especially respiratory and gastroenterological infections.
DEAR DR. ROACH >> I was catching up on my reading when I came across a column in which you described the early use of hydroxychloroquine as the standard of care for rheumatoid arthritis. Wasn’t that the drug the medical community was up in arms about, since it’s supposedly dangerous when it comes to COVID?
Meanwhile, have there been any conclusions from the clinical trials using the hydroxychloroquine cocktail and/or ivermectin during the early days of COVID — or the many doctors who saw success using them, claiming reductions of hospitalizations and deaths by 70% or more?
— W.S.
Yes, I think there is a clear scientific consensus that neither hydroxychloroquine nor ivermectin have any benefit in treating or preventing COVID. The initial anecdotal reports that seemed to show benefit have been showed to be flawed or fraudulent. High-quality studies haven’t shown a benefit in reducing either hospitalizations or deaths. (No responsible scientist ever suggested a reduction of 70%, however.)
Hydroxychloroquine does provide benefit with several conditions. It is indicated for use in malaria and in treatment for lupus, and is used off-label for other rheumatological conditions.