Study says hand shakes mean more germs, fist bumps less threatening
This video is no longer available.
NORTH JACKSON — The traditional handshake could soon be a thing of the past. You may soon push your children to fist bump instead. Turns out, it transmits a lot less germs, according to a new study. In an experiment, a college lecturer dipped a gloved hand into a container with a safe strain of E. Coli bacteria. The dirty-gloved scientist let the film dry then shook, fist-bumped or high-fived another person’s clean, gloved hand. The shakes transmitted about 10 times more bacteria than the fist bumps. On Monday, doctors at Physicians Quality Care told WBBJ how to minimize germs as your kids head back to school. “The best alternative is probably not to do anything, probably just to give a head nod and just to wink or make sure you wash your hand vigorously after you shake hands,” Dr. Peter T. Gardner said, medical director at Physicians Quality Care. The experiment also showed that handshakes transmitted about two times more germs than the high fives. The longest, firmest shakes transmitted the most bacteria.
