Whether you're old school or new school about keeping germ free, one thing's certain: the flu scare has people paying close attention to preventing illness.
Hand sanitizer is probably sitting on your desk, and maybe you can't help but constantly think about the germs floating around you. What's the best way to prevent sickness?
Most experts will tell you that your best bet is washing your hands with warm water and soap for about 20 seconds, or the time it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. You should be washing throughout the day, especially when you eat, cough, touch communal areas or work outside or around the house. Old fashioned, regular soap is just fine. Using antibacterial soap doesn't kill all of the bacteria, and bacteria left behind may develop a resistance.
If you're in a pinch, and there's no bathroom in sight, a hand sanitizer is also an option. Sanitizer comes with its own risks and should NEVER replace hand washing. Hand sanitizer works by stripping away the outer layer of oil on the skin. This usually prevents bacteria present in the body from coming to the surface of the hand. However, these bacteria that are normally present in the body are generally not the kinds of bacteria that will make us sick. In short, they sanitize, but do not clean your hands.
Sources: biology.about.com, blog.timesunion.com