Hand contact is one of the main routes of transmission of the multi-drug resistant bacteria MRSA and herpes viruses, which cause cold sores and shingles.
These transient microbes, many of which are pathogenic, do not become part of your resident bacterial hand flora. They can persist for many hours and, in the case of bacteria, replicate unless they are removed by hand hygiene.
The skin's resident bacterial flora lives in harmony with their human host, forming part of the body's natural defences against pathogens. Resident bacteria are deep seated in the skin, and are more difficult to remove. Some resident species can cause opportunistic infections during invasive procedures such as oral surgery.
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