A new defense against germs

A new defense against germs
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be the most effective way to fight off germs. AP Photo/Donna McWilliam
A new defense against germs
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be the most effective way to fight off germs. AP Photo/Donna McWilliam

A new defense against germs

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Illinois public health officials are reporting a relatively mild flu season so far. It may be too early to tell but flu shots and generous gobs of hand sanitizer seem to be keeping flu bugs at bay. But don’t get complacent; that ever-present alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not perfect.

For one thing, the second hands dry, they can start picking up new germs. Now, owners of a company in west-suburban St. Charles say they have an answer for that: A sanitizer that with just one application lasts all day.

WBEZ science reporter Gabriel Spitzer spoke with Aaron Powers, president of Prefense LLC, to learn how the Prefenz Botanticals hand sanitizer came about.