Fist bumping, instead of shaking hands, may reduce the rate of bacterial transmission in healthcare settings, according to a study published in The Journal of Hospital Infection.
Researchers at West Virginia University School of Medicine found up to 80 percent of disease-causing bacteria remain on a person's hands after washing them.
When substituting a fist bump for a hand shake, the exposed surface area of the hand was on average three times less with a fist bump, and contact time was 2.7 times less.
The study suggests using fist bumps instead of shaking hands may be beneficial to reduce bacterial transmission in healthcare settings.
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