The problem with this is simple: people need to get sick.The problem with this is simple: people need to get sick. Fear of illness is natural in humans, since illness ends up killing quite a few of us. But rarely do complications from strep throat or the common cold result in life-threatening situations (for those prone to those complications, of course, the cautionary steps in CNN’s article may be appropriate). In fact, studies have shown that some of the chemicals in antibacterial applications like hand sanitizers and kitchen cleaners can actually serve as a breeding ground for more bacteria that could be resistant to the very sanitizers meant to eradicate them.

According to Scientific American, it works like this: “Soap works by loosening and lifting dirt, oil and microbes from surfaces so they can be easily rinsed away with water, whereas general cleaners such as alcohol inflict sweeping damage to cells by demolishing key structures, then evaporate....Unlike these traditional cleaners, antibacterial products leave surface residues, creating conditions that may foster the development of resistant bacteria....For example, after spraying and wiping an antibacterial cleaner over a kitchen counter, active chemicals linger behind and continue to kill bacteria, but not necessarily all of them.”

In other words, that sticky residue on your hands after using a sanitizer might actually be a breeding ground for bacteria that the sanitizer can’t kill.

[T]hat sticky residue on your hands after using a sanitizer might actually be a breeding ground for bacteria that the sanitizer can’t kill.The article goes on to mention that one molecular biologist thinks people only need to wash their hands three times a day and avoid touching mucous membranes to stay healthy. For those of you counting, that three times a day includes all those times you go to the bathroom. Most people these days might even gag at the thought of shaking hands with a person who hasn’t washed their hands after a bathroom visit. But I guarantee you that you have. And I’d be willing to bet that the encounter didn’t leave you in bed sick for days. Because in healthy human beings, the immune system eradicates harmful bacteria every second of the day. That’s its job. And just like healthy human beings, there’s nothing wrong with it getting a little extra exercise every now and then.
[CNN, Telegraph, Scientific American]