Study: Fist bumps are more hygienic than handshakes

A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control examined the transfer of bacteria during greetings and found that the fist bump is much more hygienic than the handshake or high five. Researchers from Aberystwyth University in the United Kingdom developed an experimental model to assay transfer of bacteria during greeting exchange.

Nearly twice as much bacteria were transferred during a handshake compared with a high five, while fist bumps consistently had the lowest transmission. The high transmission level found in handshakes is not just due to the large contact area, but also depends on duration and strength. As a result, the researchers encourage further adoption of the fist bump as an alternative to the handshake.

Read the study abstract here.