HAND HYGI ENE
instead, scientists concluded that modern moisturising hand sanitising rubs cause less skin discomfort. For heavier soils, however, soap and water are a must. During the pandemic, we have seen a rise in people over-using soap or sanitiser, in the false belief that a double dose offers twice the protection. In fact, one single measure will suffice and result in an effective clean. The handwashing process should be completed by ensuring all soap product is rinsed off and hands are dried thoroughly. Chris Packham, director of EnviroDerm
Services (UK), a specialist in the prevention of damage to health due to workplace skin exposure, explains: “Much attention has been given to the correct application of the soap and water, but relatively little has been given to the process of rinsing the skin. Yet if this is not done properly, a soap residue will remain on the hands and contribute to skin damage. Furthermore, incomplete rinsing will result in active viruses remaining on the hands thus largely negating the whole process. “Contact with soap and water results in the removal of the microscopically thin surface emulsion that controls moisture level in the skin itself. This allows the skin to become excessively dry and ineffective as a barrier. It is also more easily colonised by transient micro-organisms. Applying a moisturising lotion to the skin restores its ability to maintain the hydration level essential for its proper function.” Therefore, to maintain optimal skin health, healthcare workers should use moisturisers regularly to rehydrate and replenish oils in the skin. This helps to reduce the risk of skin shedding, which can cause additional irritation. Gojo Hand Medic Professional Skin Conditioner is a water-based product, designed to maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier and help prevent dry, damaged hands. Its silicone- free and unfragranced formula is quickly absorbed into the skin and is designed to improve skin condition.
A combination approach is necessary for compliance Of course, product selection is only part of the solution – combining this with two other pillars is key to increasing compliance. Firstly, commitment throughout an organisation is essential if hand hygiene improvement initiatives are to succeed and affect any lasting change in the behaviour of healthcare workers. So, it is worthwhile to actively promote and remind healthcare workers, patients, and visitors alike to use the hand hygiene facilities. Placing awareness-raising and educative posters and signage in washrooms and at germ hotspots not only prompts people to act, but also refreshes their memory with the best
MAY 2021
techniques. Good hand hygiene companies can offer sound advice on the most effective approaches, as well as provide materials, based on their knowledge and market insight.
Secondly, hand hygiene facilities must be readily available and easy to use. According to the WHO, in a healthcare setting, hand hygiene products (for example, alcohol-based hand rubs, if available) should be easily accessible. Point-of-care products should be as close as possible, within arm’s reach of where patient care or treatment is taking place, without having to leave the patient zone. The correct choice and positioning are crucial to influencing hygienic behaviour. Dispensers can be wall-mounted, free- standing, push-activated or touch-free. In fact, contactless technology is becoming increasingly popular (unsurprisingly, especially over the past year), as these dispensers intuitively release just the right amount of product without the user physically having to touch it. Since a precise amount is delivered, there is less mess and wastage too.
Installing a hand sanitiser dispenser at the washroom exit can help to improve hygiene levels too. If people have not washed their hands properly, germs can be spread onto the door handle and other surfaces that they touch when they leave the washroom. In fact, research has revealed that one single contaminated door handle can infect up to 60% of the occupants of a building within just four hours. Placing a sanitising dispenser at washroom exits provides an extra opportunity for hand hygiene, as well as offering an additional layer of protection. Positioning it between 36” to 46” above the floor, on the handle side, is the optimum height to trigger proper hand hygiene behaviour and prevent the transmission of bacteria from door handles. It is incredible that the simple act of hand hygiene has so much power to protect our health, and that of our patients, colleagues, and wider communities. Its sole flaw is that it is only effective if everybody in a facility practises it. That is why it is so important to implement a hand hygiene system that encourages compliance. Put simply, it’s about having the right products, in the right place, at the right time. Choosing products with both caring and fast-acting, effective formulations goes a long way in boosting compliance and lowering the risk of infection.
CSJ
References 1
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a- coronaviruses
2
https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/tools/who_ guidelines-handhygiene_summary.pdf
3
https://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/tools/who_ guidelines-handhygiene_summary.pdf
4
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC6533878/
5
https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/ dermatitis/skin.pdf
6 Narang I, et al, Occupational dermatoses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multicentre audit in the U.K. and Ireland, BJD, 28 October 2020. https://doi. org/10.1111/bjd.19632
7
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/inaugural- who-partners-forum/who-interim-recommendation- on-obligatory-hand-hygiene-against-transmission- of-covid-19.pdf
8
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/hand-sanitizer- use.html, accessed 25/11/20
9 Edmonds SL, et al, Comparative efficacy of commercially available alcohol-based hand rubs and World Health Organization-recommended hand rubs: formulation matters. Am J Infect Control. 2012 Aug;40(6):521-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.08.016. Epub 2012 Jan 20. PMID: 22264743.
10
https://www.purell.eu/en/blog-en/hand- disinfectants-moisturising-ingredients-make-the-
difference.html
About the author
Chris Wakefield is vice president, European marketing and product development, at Gojo Industries-Europe, a global producer of skin health and hygiene solutions. The company has a portfolio of internationally recognised brands, including Purell. Chris joined Gojo in April 2011, first as European sales operations manager. In this time, he has helped manage the growth of European operations, working closely with partners in healthcare and other markets to promote the importance of hand hygiene, skin care, and scientifically proven product solutions. This has included participation in industry groups and initiatives in collaboration with the Private Organisations for Patient Safety (POPS), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Société Française d’Hygiène Hospitalière, and the Infection Prevention Society.
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