How does soap destroy germs?

 

Soap's skills to kill germs are inherent in its molecular composition.

 

One of the most effective ways to protect yourself against disease-causing bacteria and the people and things you encounter is to scrub your hands with soap for twenty seconds. But how can the suds produced by soap eliminate the harmful bacteria and viruses that cause human illness?

 

According to Dr. Lee Riley, a physician, professor, and chief of the Division of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology at the University of California (UC) Berkeley, the antimicrobial properties of soap are encoded in its molecular structure, which consists of a "head" coupled to a lengthy "tail." The head is hydrophilic, which means it enjoys being in or around water, whereas the tail is hydrophobic, which means it avoids or avoids contact with water. This hydrophobic tail has an affinity for fats. Since all bacteria and some viruses, like the coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19, have a lipid membrane, they are susceptible to being penetrated by the fat-puncturing tail of a soap molecule. SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

 

According to Riley, who spoke to Live Science on the topic, "the tail attaches itself into the lipid membrane of the [bacteria], and that is how it ends up getting killed."

 

Certain species of infections have exceptionally sturdy cell walls, which allows them to endure even after the hydrophobic tail of soap penetrates their membrane. However, even in these circumstances, soap molecules can eliminate germs and viruses by enclosing them and separating them from the environment.

 

When soap is used to fight these infections, the tails of the soap molecules bind to the lipid membrane of the cell, and the hydrophilic heads of the soap molecules face outward. According to Dr. John Swartzberg, a physician, clinical professor emeritus, and infectious disease expert at the University of California, Berkeley, who Live Science interviewed, this results in the formation of a micelle, which is a miniature ball of molecules made up of soap. Because the exterior of the micelle is hydrophilic, it can easily capture pathogens like bacteria or viruses. However, because the exterior of the micelle is hydrophilic, it is also easily removed from your hands and flushed down the drain along with its captive pathogens when you wash the soap off with water.

 

In 2010, researchers investigated the efficacy of soap by having 20 participants contaminate their hands 480 times with bacteria that cause diarrhea. This allowed the researchers to determine how well soap works. The participants were then given a random assignment to carry out the following three procedures:

• Washing their hands with soap
• Washing their hands with simple water
• Not washing their hands at all

The scientists then tested their hands to see if they carried any of the germs that cause diarrhea, and their findings were published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

 

Bacteria were found on the hands of 44% of the participants in the group of people who did not wash their hands before the experiment. Bacteria were discovered in the hands of 23% of those who participated in the study and washed their hands with only water. According to the study's findings, just 8% of people in the group that cleansed their hands with soap and water had bacteria on them.

 

According to Swartzberg, the soap molecules are so efficient in removing and destroying the germs on our hands that antibacterial soap is not only absolutely unnecessary, but it can even be dangerous because it encourages the growth of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. And when we flush antibacterial soap down the drain, it can contribute to the growth of germs that are resistant to antibiotics in the water supply for our communities.

 

In addition, using antibacterial soap eliminates all germs, including the beneficial bacteria essential to maintaining our health, as Riley explained.

 

However, one essential component required for soap to perform its function is sometimes disregarded. That brings us to an end. It takes the tail end of the soap molecule at least 20 seconds to sufficient link itself to the germs on your hands or another surface. According to Swartzberg, if you cut that time short, you risk not receiving the entire preventive impact that using soap provides.

Article source : https://www.livescience.com/how-soap-kills-germs

Image source  : https://pixabay.com/id/vectors/sabun-mandi-gelembung-mandi-1135229/

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