Infections, particularly those displaying antimicrobial resistance, present a major threat to public health.
Dangerous pathogens are everywhere, and can live on surfaces for days, weeks and even months – Clostridium Difficile spores, for example, can live up to five months. Furthermore, worrying research has shown that you have a 50/50 chance of picking up a dangerous pathogen anytime you touch anything or anyone in a hospital.
However, many studies published in the last 20 years have proved that good hand hygiene helps to prevent serious infections from spreading, and to reduce healthcare associated infections (HAI’s) by up to 50%. As a founder member of the Private Organizations for Patient Safety group, GOJO Industries-Europe advocates making hand hygiene second nature to everyone in a healthcare setting.
The company advises three key strategies to influence behaviour: accessibility; formulations; and signage, stating: “Handwashing facilities must be accessible and dispensers easy to use. The WHO recommends that an adequate number of appropriately positioned hand hygiene facilities should be readily available at the point of care.
“The high frequency with which healthcare workers wash or sanitise their hands means that the formulations must be gentle yet effective against germs, complying with key hospital norms EN 1500, EN 14476 and EN 12791. “
“Finally, eye-catching signage is very effective as a prompt, especially at key germ hot-spots such as washrooms and waiting areas.”
For more information, call +44(0)1908 588444, email infouk@GOJO.com or visit www.GOJO.com. 78
