Proper hand washing and hand drying remain the most important ways of maintaining hygiene and reducing the chance of infection. It’s therefore important for managers to review the practicality of dispensers and invest in larger capacity units if necessary.
Hand hygiene is vital
Healthcare workers should practice good hygiene by always washing their hands before and after touching patients and performing procedures. While frequent and thorough handwashing is essential in reducing contamination by hand, many staff still struggle to consistently practice good hand hygiene, which can impact on the level of hygiene compliance. This is mainly due to a lack of time, the non- availability of hygiene products and a lack of understanding around the importance of effective hand hygiene.
Harsh soaps and rough drying towels can irritate skin, so it’s important to ensure that gentler products are available and healthcare professionals understand the importance of using them regularly. Furthermore, milder soaps and less abrasive hand towels make frequent handwashing and drying more likely.
As well as being more pleasant, soaps should be quick and easy to use for busy staff. The North Shore mild formulation soap from Northwood, for instance, is gentle to hands and provides up to 1,250 shots, so will not run out quickly and leave people with no soap.
The easy to load manual soap dispenser is simple to wipe clean, with each cartridge including a new nozzle for added hygiene. It is compatible with Northwood’s range of alcohol and alcohol-free sanitisers and soaps.
Alcohol gels or foams, like the North Shore instant sanitiser foam, should also be available to allow healthcare staff to cleanse their hands when handwashing isn’t feasible. It’s important to remember however that whilst alcohol protects against some viruses, it is not effective against Norovirus.
Focus on hand drying
So, we all know how important washing our hands is, but drying them after washing is equally essential, as damp hands can spread 1000 times more bacteria than dry hands (Smith and Lokhorst, 2009). It’s imperative therefore that washrooms in hospital and healthcare settings are well equipped to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. With many people ignoring hand dryers on their way out of the washroom, it may be sensible to provide paper towels instead, which are both hygienic and convenient.
Few people take enough time to properly wash their hands and then dry them hygienically with air dryers before leaving the washroom, and some people rub their hands on their clothes to dry them if air drying is the only option. All this means that people are still carrying germs on their hands when they leave the washroom to spread elsewhere. Think about the amount of winter germs that could land on washroom door handles when people walk out of the facility. Then, there’s the chance for germs to transmit and harbour on hospital lanyards, stethoscopes and medical equipment.
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Moreover, many studies have found that friction is a key component of hand drying to help remove contamination. So, the action of drying hands with paper towels can actually help to remove bacteria.
Microbes, particularly viruses, can disperse in the air during air drying. These viruses can then be inhaled, passing from one person to another via the air we breathe. Any microbes in the air can be blown by the air dryer onto our face, body and arms, which we then carry out of the washroom.
Practical solutions
When it comes to healthcare hygiene, the design of washroom dispensers is really important, too. With washrooms being constantly used, it’s essential to control the use of paper towels to prevent overuse. Providers should therefore choose high-capacity, controlled-use dispensers that restrict the use of consumables like hand towels. Not only does this help to reduce costs, it also reduces waste and is therefore more environmentally sustainable.
Furthermore, contactless dispensers improve hygiene because the user does not need to touch the unit to release hand towels, potentially undoing the benefit of washing their hands in the first place. Dispensers that are easy to wipe clean, sealed and splash-proof keep products hygienically stored inside, helping to prevent the contents becoming contaminated.
Northwood’s high-capacity North Shore premium proprietary system of washroom dispensers and consumables is often specified because it is designed to deliver zero waste and volume in use. Providing industry- leading capacity and supreme cost-in-use benefits, it is easy to install and maintain, as well as being durable, hygienic and environmentally sustainable.
A thoughtfully designed washroom is a must to help control the peak in winter viruses. Choosing solutions that help everyone to easily maintain good hand hygiene can make hospitals and healthcare settings safer and ease pressure on the NHS.
For further information, call 01952 236 930 or visit the website below.
www.northwood.co.uk TOMORROW'S CLEANING | 37
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