CLEANING & INFECTION CONTROL A Helping Hand


Chris Wakefield, Managing Director UK & Ireland at GOJO Industries-Europe Ltd, discusses how unseasonal viruses are keeping care homes on their toes when it comes to infection control.


Believe it or not, we are now into the fourth year of living with Covid. With restrictions no longer in place over the past winter, we have seen an increase in these cases as well as an explosion of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza. In fact, the traditional ‘cold and flu’ season started months earlier than usual, with the rate of flu hospitalisation the highest it’s been in a decade, according to public health officials. There has also been an unseasonal rise in cases of Strep A (Group A Streptococcus) infections amongst children.


In the wake of the pandemic, it seems that there has been a dramatic shiſt in the patterns of traditionally seasonal viruses – meaning we never quite know when they might peak. Therefore, infection control remains of the highest importance at all times, even as we edge into spring when the spread of germs usually decreases. Care home settings, which house the vulnerable and the elderly, simply cannot afford to become complacent.


A cornerstone of infection prevention, hand hygiene is a simple way to cut transmission of viruses and bacteria. However, for it to be truly successful, a number of factors must be carefully considered. One of the most important is the formulation of products and the impact they have on skin health. This is particularly pertinent for care workers, who must clean their hands repeatedly throughout a shiſt.


STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE Care home managers must, therefore, strike a balance between


proven efficacy and the overall user experience.


Above all, hand hygiene products must kill germs. Those that meet key industry standards (EN 1500, EN 14476 and EN 12791) provide assurance that they are both effective against germs and safe for use in healthcare locations. Since statistics have shown many people do not spend very long washing or sanitising hands and surfaces, choosing products that reach their stated efficacy levels quickly can be beneficial in busy care settings.


Selecting hand hygiene solutions that will not irritate skin is equally important. If workers believe that soaps and sanitisers will dry out their hands, cause dermatitis, or exacerbate skin conditions, then they will abandon the act altogether. This elevates the risk of germs spreading around the care setting and putting the health of all occupants in danger.


Look for products that have been clinically proven to maintain skin health – these products are enriched with nourishing agents to keep skin healthy and feeling soſt and refreshed. Also consider supplying moisturising lotions to rehydrate and replenish oils in the skin. They also help to reduce the risk of skin shedding, which can cause additional irritation.


GOOD HYGIENE DOESN’T STOP WITH


THE STAFF For hand hygiene to be an effective infection control measure, it must be practised by everybody – not just care staff, but visitors


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and indeed, the residents themselves. However, the latter’s fragile skin requires extra-gentle care.


Ensure selected solutions are suitable and accessible to them. For example, the new GOJO Mild Lotion Wash is perfect for residents’ personal bathrooms. Gentle enough for the most delicate of skin (even that of infants), it benefits from an innovative 3-in-1 formula. It can be used on the hands, hair, and body, negating the need for separate soap, shower gel, and shampoo products.


Protecting skin health should be at the forefront of decision- making when it comes to implementing an effective hand hygiene programme in care settings. By choosing effective solutions that actively care for skin, managers can help increase compliance. This, in turn, lowers the risk of germs – whether seasonal or unseasonal – being transferred and causing illness among residents and staff.


www.gojo.com www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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