Save Lives – Clean Your Hands
Reassessing Hand Hygiene
Washing hands after using the bathroom, before handling food, or engaging in any activity where cleanliness is paramount is a routine practice that most people perform automatically. Given this, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) May 5th awareness day, "Save Lives: Clean Your Hands 2018," may initially seem unnecessary or overly dramatic.
You might think, “I’ve always washed my hands.”
However, this very complacency underscores the need for such campaigns. If everyone adhered to proper hand hygiene consistently, there would be no need for an awareness day, and the associated risks to human health would be significantly reduced.
Rethinking Hand Hygiene
To address this, I invite you to reassess your hand hygiene practices. How thorough is your cleaning? What risks are you mitigating? Are the available facilities adequate?
Sepsis in Healthcare
The theme of this year’s campaign is to prevent sepsis in healthcare settings. Given the potentially fatal complications arising from infections, emphasizing hygiene for healthcare workers is essential. However, this concern extends beyond healthcare professionals. Understanding the severity of these risks highlights the importance of good hygiene for everyone.
Sepsis can develop following surgery, through catheters, or during extended hospital stays. It can stem from various infections, including skin, organ, appendicitis, and flu. If the immune system is compromised or the infection is severe, it can spread through the bloodstream, triggering an overreaction from the immune system. This response can cause inflammation throughout the body, damaging tissues and restricting blood flow. Consequently, a patient's health can deteriorate rapidly, with blood pressure dropping and oxygen failing to reach the organs.
Hospitals pose heightened risks as vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women, chemotherapy patients, and HIV sufferers, are more susceptible to infections escalating into sepsis. Depending on the infection's progression and the bacteria involved, treatment may include oxygen, intravenous fluids, and antibiotics, each with its own challenges.
The crucial takeaway is that poor hygiene can lead to minor infections escalating into severe conditions like sepsis. Additional risks include food poisoning, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and the spread of viruses and parasites. Prevention, starting with proper hygiene practices, is paramount.
Key Hygiene Advice
WHO’s "5 Moments for Hand Hygiene" aims to combat sepsis in healthcare by promoting handwashing:
- Before touching a patient.
- Before a clean/aseptic procedure.
- After body fluid exposure risk.
- After touching a patient.
- After touching a patient's surroundings.
Although these steps are tailored for healthcare settings, they offer valuable lessons for everyone. Proper hand hygiene is crucial in various situations:
- After using the toilet.
- When handling raw foods, particularly meats and vegetables, to prevent cross-contamination.
- Before eating.
- After outdoor activities, cleaning, handling hazardous substances, or contact with pets and other animals.
Be Thorough
Effective handwashing requires more than briefly rinsing hands under a tap. Spend approximately 20 seconds washing hands with soap to ensure cleanliness. Wet your hands, apply soap, and cover them completely. Alternate between rubbing your palms together, interlocking fingers, rubbing the backs of your fingers against your palms, and clasping each thumb while rotating it. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry your hands.
Drying Hands
Proper hand drying is often overlooked but crucial. Damp reusable towels can harbor bacteria, negating the benefits of handwashing. Ensure towels are regularly laundered and replaced. Paper towels, though less environmentally friendly, minimize cross-contamination. Electric hand dryers are also effective but may take longer to fully dry hands. Ensure hands are completely dry before touching surfaces to prevent bacteria spread.
Adequate Facilities
Evaluate whether your facilities support proper hand hygiene. If necessary, raise concerns with management. Sufficient sinks, automated handwashing machines, and regular maintenance are essential. Address issues like blocked drains or lack of soap and towels promptly.
Conclusion
In a busy workday, minor hygiene lapses can be easily overlooked. However, maintaining strict hand hygiene is essential to prevent serious health risks. Next time you wash your hands, consider their cleanliness critically. Would you want to shake that hand, have it serve your food, or treat your injuries? If not, it’s time to reassess your hand hygiene practices.
