To Shake or Not to Shake: Can Bacterial Cross-contamination Occur from Handshaking in Healthcare Settings?

Transfer of bacteria through handshaking in the clinical setting is an issue of concern and warranting investigation. Handshaking may be a likely mode for transmission of microorganisms [1]. Transfer of pathogenic microorganisms in the clinical environment is important because healthcare professionals and students are at risk. Contamination from instruments that can become vectors of cross-infection [2,3] may harbor pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa which have been implicated in cross- contamination [4]. Sklansky [5] proposed banning the handshake from the health care setting