HAND HYGIENE
step in prevention,” said urgent care specialist Theresa Lash-Ritter, MD. Lots of research has focused on handwashing and hand drying techniques. In one study, microbiologists compared jet air dryers with warm air dryers and paper towels. What they found was disturbing: Jet air dryers dispersed 20 times more viruses than warm air dryers and over 190 times more than paper towels at six different heights and nine different distances The impact was greatest at 2.5 feet – 4.1 feet which is about face level for a small
child.The way each method works helps to explain the results n Jet air dryers force air out sideways at ultra high speeds
n Warm air dryers work by evaporation n Paper towels absorb water. Drying your hands with paper towels not only dries them faster, but the friction also dislodges bacteria to leave them cleaner.
The best way to get your hands really clean
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following method: n Use warm or cold water. Wet your hands, then turn off the tap and apply soap
n Lather well, washing the backs of your hands, between your fingers and beneath your nails
n Wash for a minimum of 20-30 seconds – about as long as it takes to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.
n Rinse well under clean running water n Dry hands thoroughly with a disposable paper towel.
If soap and water are not accessible, use hand sanitisers that contain at least 60% alcohol. WHO guidance recommends a minimum of 60% compliant with BS EN 1500:2013) can be used, but do note they won’t clean visible dirt or grease, they can’t kill all germs and they can’t remove harmful chemicals. For effective disinfection it is advisable to cover all surfaces of the hands and fingers.
The importance of hand hygiene in different religions
There are several reasons why religious and cultural issues should be considered when dealing with the topic of hand hygiene and planning a strategy to promote it in health- care settings. The WHO has issued guidelines that are intended to be disseminated all over the world and in settings where very different cultural and religious beliefs may strongly influence their implementation. Furthermore, the guidelines consider new aspects of hand hygiene promotion, including behavioural and transcultural issues.
Non alcohol products versus alcohol products
Alcohol-free hand sanitisers entered the market to address the concerns and
There are typically more bacteria in a bulk filled soap dispenser than in a toilet in the same bathroom.
complaints that stemmed from the use of gels. In many ways, they have succeeded. Typically, these solutions are much easier on the hands and pose much less of a threat in cases of accidental ingestion, and also pose a lesser potential as a fire hazard and are non-damaging to surfaces. One other clear benefit is the extended persistence that occurs. The product’s ability to kill bacteria ends once the product has dried on the skin whereas the benzalkonium chloride based low alchohol-free products continue to provide protection well after the solution has dried.
One possible drawback with the alcohol- free solutions is that they most often come in the form of foam. While this usually results in a more pleasing experience for the user (as opposed to gels) it does require a special foaming mechanism in the dispenser, often making converting from a non-foaming system cost prohibitive as it could require new hardware to be installed.
Despite some clear benefits, alcohol-free based products have yet to gain real traction in the health market. Alcohol-based gels continue to be favoured by health organisations, and therefore seen as a more credible solution by many in the field. It’s not that these organisations don’t recognise the effectiveness of Benzalkonium Chloride based solutions, however, the term “alcohol- free” could apply to any number of products on the market. (It’s a broad term that makes it impossible for agencies like the FDA and the WHO to endorse.)
Right product, right place
Because both types of products do more or less the same job in killing harmful microbes, choosing the right product is a matter of assessing your needs against your environment, budget, and personal preference. For example, for people working in schools, care homes, mental health hospitals
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or manufacturing workplaces an alcohol-free system would most likely provide you the most peace of mind and protection from ingestion or fire. If you work in a hospital that requires you to follow strict guidelines set by the NHS, you may need to go with an alcohol-based gel. The BHTA asserted that whatever your needs, having an effective hand sanitiser as part of your preventative defence against illness and disease is a crucial part of a healthy environment.
Where can I contact approved?
Please visit the BHTA Website – go to “Find a Member” and search for “Decontamination and Infection Prevention” to find a list of reputable manufacturers and suppliers. The Get Wise Leaflet was put together by
industry experts at the BHTA and can be downloaded at
http://bit.ly/2BL5fjm The Get Wise publication also considers the practical help for hand hygiene in different religions.
Marketing and communications manager,
Steve Perry, said: “BHTA produce a series of Get Wise leaflets aimed at consumers, healthcare professionals and our own members to share good practice. The Get Wise publication also considers the practical help for hand hygiene in different religions. The Hand Hygiene publication and other Get Wise leaflets are available from the BHTA website at
http://bhta.com/get- wise-leaflets/.”
References
1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3291447/
2
http://www.who.int/gpsc/5may/tools/who_ guidelines-handhygiene_summary.pdf
3
http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/publications/ in-vivo/Vol1_Iss20_dec04_02/
washing.html
4
https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ ConsumerUpdates/
ucm378393.htm
NOVEMBER 2018
CSJ
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