As the temperatures cool, the sniffles increase ― and your local pharmacy might just be the hotbed of disease right now that you are overlooking.
“A majority of people picking up prescriptions are likely sick, or have been near someone who is sick,” said Supriya Rao, a gastroenterologist at Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants. “Germs on their hands can end up on the screen, linger, and then travel to the next person’s fingers.”
Microbiologist Jason Tetro aka “The Germ Guy” said the problem is that the majority of people still treat a pharmacy “like a store, and don’t think about it as a healthcare facility” where there will “be a higher percentage of people who are sick with viruses.”
Even if your quick pharmacy run only takes minutes, that’s enough time for you to get virus-carrying germs on your hands because “the minute that you touch something, there’s going to be transfer,” Tetro warned.
One of the first items many people must touch in a pharmacy is a sign-in screen or a touchpad to use a blood pressure monitor, Tetro noted. These highly-touched shared surfaces could be why you are sick later in the week. “You’re getting your blood pressure checked one day, and the next day you’ve got the sniffles.”
Out of all the high-touch surfaces, Rao said door handles, sign-in screens and payment terminals are the surfaces most likely to carry lots of germs in a pharmacy.
These public surfaces could be carrying fecal bacteria, common cold virus and COVID viruses in addition to rhinovirus, which can survive on surfaces “for a fairly long period of time,” Tetro said.
Why Hand Sanitizer Can Help You The Most During A Pharmacy Errand
After you touch any surface in the pharmacy, the best thing you can do is wash your hands since some pathogens are resistant to hand sanitizer. However, sanitizer is the next best tool.
If your pharmacy doesn’t already provide it, you should use hand sanitizer immediately after touching one of these shared touchscreens.
“Using hand sanitizer while on the go is a great way to help protect yourself,” Rao said. “Washing your hands when you get home can add an extra layer.”
Tetro said using hand sanitizer properly can make all the difference when you’re in a public space filled with sick people. To get the most out of this product, people should get their hands fully wet from a quarter-size drop of hand sanitizer and rub it in for 15 seconds.
“It takes you 15 seconds of your time to give you a lot of protection,” Tetro said.