Zinc Gluconate and Hand Washing Fight Colds

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Zinc Gluconate and Hand Washing Fight Colds: Expert Recommends Zinc

Gluconate-Based Products to Shorten Common Cold and Avoid Overuse of

Antibiotics

PHOENIX, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Improved hand washing techniques and

early use of zinc gluconate, the active ingredient in over-the-counter products

such as Zicam® Cold Remedy, are effective first-line defenses against the

common cold, according to Dr. Gerba, professor of environmental

microbiology, at the University of Arizona at Tucson.

Research conducted at the University of Arizona at Tucson found that 60

percent of people will wash their hands after using a public restroom, but only

15 percent (less than one in five individuals) will effectively eliminate germs.

" People with colds will literally hand you the rhinovirus if you are not

careful.

And, because poor hand washing habits are so prevalent in the United

States, everyone will get the common cold at some point, " says Dr. Gerba.

" Unlike most over-the-counter remedies which mask cold symptoms, clinically

proven* zinc gluconate-based products, like Zicam Cold Remedy, treat the

cold itself, safely and effectively shortening the duration and severity of the

illness. "

Each day, Americans come in contact with a variety of potentially

contaminated hotspots such as kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and even other

individuals that may result in exposure to the many viruses that can cause the

common cold such as rhinovirus and coronavirus. These viruses can be

transmitted with a simple wipe of the eyes or nose.

" Antibiotic resistance is one of the world's most pressing public health

problems. You can argue that we suffer from 'antibiotic abuse' in the United

States, " says Dr. Gerba. " Instead of taking antibiotics to treat the common

cold,

people would be better off using an over-the-counter product such as Zicam

Cold Remedy to manage their condition. "

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotics

should only be used when prescribed by a doctor to treat bacterial infections

and are not effective against viral infections like the common cold, most sore

throats, and the flu. In the early stages of sickness, it is often difficult to

determine whether the symptoms are due to a bacterial or viral infection and

many patients request a prescription for an antibiotic. Each time an antibiotic

is used, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant germs may remain to grow

and multiply. Decreasing inappropriate antibiotic use is the best way to

control resistance.

About the Common Cold

The National Institutes of Health estimate more than 200 different viruses,

including about 110 rhinoviruses, are known to cause common cold

symptoms. Americans are expected to suffer from one billion colds this year.

The nose is the main portal of entry for cold viruses. The highest

concentration of cold virus in nasal secretion occurs during the first three

days

of infection. This is when infected persons are most contagious.

About Matrixx Initiatives, Inc.

Matrixx Initiatives, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacture and

marketing of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, which utilize innovative drug

delivery systems. Zicam, LLC, its wholly-owned subsidiary, produces, markets

and sells Zicam® Cold Remedy nasal gel, a patented, homeopathic remedy

that has been clinically proven to significantly reduce the duration and

severity of the common cold. In studies published in the October 2000 issue of

ENT -- Ear, Nose and Throat Journal, and separately in the January 2003

issue of QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, the Zicam Cold Remedy

product was shown to reduce significantly the duration of the common cold.