It doesn’t have to be optimal, the question is whether it is better. Is it better to wash all the time (as described in the post), like most people (let’s say before eating and after using the bathroom), once-twice a day, or not at all (hands only washed during showers)? I’m not quite sure that “all the time” is better (it could be, but I’m not sure).
There is clearly a phenomenon of adapting to pathogens. I’ve heard it firsthand from at least two people who worked in less sanitary areas (South-American slums and Center-African countryside). There is no doubt to me that they were better off going through a bit of sickness in order to avoid the overheads of constant hand-washing.
I’ve also never heard heard about the gains in public hygiene due to hand washing in the general public (I mean that literally, I’m pointedly not saying they don’t exist!). In a medical context, sure, the last thing we want is medical personnel spreading pathogens to vulnerable people.
It doesn’t have to be optimal, the question is whether it is better. Is it better to wash all the time (as described in the post), like most people (let’s say before eating and after using the bathroom), once-twice a day, or not at all (hands only washed during showers)? I’m not quite sure that “all the time” is better (it could be, but I’m not sure).
There is clearly a phenomenon of adapting to pathogens. I’ve heard it firsthand from at least two people who worked in less sanitary areas (South-American slums and Center-African countryside). There is no doubt to me that they were better off going through a bit of sickness in order to avoid the overheads of constant hand-washing.
I’ve also never heard heard about the gains in public hygiene due to hand washing in the general public (I mean that literally, I’m pointedly not saying they don’t exist!). In a medical context, sure, the last thing we want is medical personnel spreading pathogens to vulnerable people.