Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK (AP) — When it comes to preventing the spread of germs, maybe the president is on to something with his fondness for fist bumps.
A new study found that a quick fist bump spreads only one-twentieth the amount of bacteria that a handshake does. That's even better than a high-five, which passes along less than half the amount as a handshake.
What makes the fist bump more sanitary? The researchers say mostly it's the smaller amount of surface area in contact between the two hands.
Researchers at Aberystwyth University in Wales did the study. It was published online Monday in the American Journal of Infection Control.
The fist bump has been popularized in recent years by athletes and by President Barack Obama.
___
Online:
Journal: http://www.ajicjournal.org
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.