--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Twenty-five percent of the nurses in one…" description: "\"“Twenty-five percent of the nurses in one study, writes Larson, had dry, damaged skin. Ironically, the nurses may be exacerbating the very thing that h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/mary-roach-635_education_twenty-five-percent-of-the-nurses-in-one_1611548.jpg" --- # Twenty-five percent of the nurses in one study, writes… ![“Twenty-five percent of the nurses in one study, writes Larson, had dry, damaged skin. Ironically, the nurses may be exacerbating the very thing that hand-washing seeks to prevent: the spread of infectious bacteria. Larson says healthy skin sheds 10 million particles a day, and 10 percent of those…” quote by Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/mary-roach-635_education_twenty-five-percent-of-the-nurses-in-one_1611548.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/mary-roach-635_education_twenty-five-percent-of-the-nurses-in-one_1611548.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24f/mary-roach-635_education_twenty-five-percent-of-the-nurses-in-one_1611548.jpg) > ““Twenty-five percent of the nurses in one study, writes Larson, had dry, damaged skin. Ironically, the nurses may be exacerbating the very thing that hand-washing seeks to prevent: the spread of infectious bacteria. Larson says healthy skin sheds 10 million particles a day, and 10 percent of those harbor bacteria. Dry, damaged skin flakes off more readily than healthy, lubricated skin and thus disperses more bacteria. Damaged skin also harbors more pathogens than healthy skin. As”” [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dry skin on hands can increase bacterial spread, counteracting hand‑washing benefits. **In simple terms:** Damaged skin spreads more germs. Key Takeaway Keep skin moisturized to reduce infection risk. Themes health hygiene infection skin care hand washing Mood concerned informative Type educational practical When to use this quote - hospital work - patient care - personal hygiene - clinical settings Key Concepts microbiology dermatology infection control Questions to Reflect On - How does skin health affect infection control? - What routines improve hand skin integrity? A Different Perspective Moisturizing alone may not eliminate all bacterial transmission. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ## Related quotes > [“Hand-washing is a potentially effective behavior that can lessen the threat of any individual getting sick from the flu or other infectious diseases, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethany-albertson/hand-washing-is-a-potentially-effective-behavior-that-can-lessen-the/) [Bethany Albertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethany-albertson/) > [What the world needs now is less handwashing and more foot washing. (The problem with the world is that there is too much hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-j-calleja/what-the-world-needs-now-is-less-handwashing-and-more-foot-washing/) [OMAR J CALLEJA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-j-calleja/) > [When I was growing up, hand washing was a ritual, but now it's a necessity. 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