I think it’s a safe assumption that if hand hygiene
compliance by nurses, doctors and on other healthcare workers is lacking then
those of us not in a healthcare related field (especially our children) must be
dismal. Depending on where you look the
rates for hand hygiene within healthcare facilities varies. One study I found looked at hand hygiene in
ICU versus non-ICU settings. Prior to
initiating the 12-month study, compliance rates were 26% for ICU settings and
36% for non-ICU settings. After the
12-month study, which included education and feedback the rates improved
slightly to 37% and 51% respectively.
PATHETIC – especially when we know that hand hygiene is the single most
important factor in the prevention of health care associated infections.
compliance by nurses, doctors and on other healthcare workers is lacking then
those of us not in a healthcare related field (especially our children) must be
dismal. Depending on where you look the
rates for hand hygiene within healthcare facilities varies. One study I found looked at hand hygiene in
ICU versus non-ICU settings. Prior to
initiating the 12-month study, compliance rates were 26% for ICU settings and
36% for non-ICU settings. After the
12-month study, which included education and feedback the rates improved
slightly to 37% and 51% respectively.
PATHETIC – especially when we know that hand hygiene is the single most
important factor in the prevention of health care associated infections.
This is in part why I found the study published in the
American Journal of Infection Control so interesting. Miko, BA, et al investigated the knowledge
and beliefs towards personal and household hygiene of college students (AJIC,2012;40:940-945). The results were quite
interesting. When looking at personal
hygiene (hand washing, bathing and tooth brushing), women reported higher rates
of “compliance” than did men.
Thankfully, almost 75% of the study participants reported washing their
hands after using the toilet (I shudder to think what the remaining 25% are
doing or touching after they have used
the toilet……). Greater than 65% reported
daily showering and twice daily tooth brushing – I’d hazard a guess, this group
likely has a significant other! What was
interesting is that Freshmen had better hygiene rates than seniors and science
majors had better hygiene rates than humanity majors. I am SO thankful I am a woman who was a
science major! I plead the fifth as to
whether my personal hygiene decreased over my 4 years at school…. I ALWAYS washed my hands after my biology
labs where we were touching or dissecting things!
American Journal of Infection Control so interesting. Miko, BA, et al investigated the knowledge
and beliefs towards personal and household hygiene of college students (AJIC,2012;40:940-945). The results were quite
interesting. When looking at personal
hygiene (hand washing, bathing and tooth brushing), women reported higher rates
of “compliance” than did men.
Thankfully, almost 75% of the study participants reported washing their
hands after using the toilet (I shudder to think what the remaining 25% are
doing or touching after they have used
the toilet……). Greater than 65% reported
daily showering and twice daily tooth brushing – I’d hazard a guess, this group
likely has a significant other! What was
interesting is that Freshmen had better hygiene rates than seniors and science
majors had better hygiene rates than humanity majors. I am SO thankful I am a woman who was a
science major! I plead the fifth as to
whether my personal hygiene decreased over my 4 years at school…. I ALWAYS washed my hands after my biology
labs where we were touching or dissecting things!
When it came to looking at household hygiene, the
frequency of cleaning was remarkably varied.
Greater than 50% reported cleaning their rooms weekly (I’m not sure I
did that during my two years living in residence, my roommates and I did clean
weekly once we moved into a house) and there was no difference in cleaning
frequency when the student was ill, but many would increase cleaning if their
roommate was ill.
frequency of cleaning was remarkably varied.
Greater than 50% reported cleaning their rooms weekly (I’m not sure I
did that during my two years living in residence, my roommates and I did clean
weekly once we moved into a house) and there was no difference in cleaning
frequency when the student was ill, but many would increase cleaning if their
roommate was ill.
We know that deficiencies in hand hygiene practices have
been associated with outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis and upper respiratory
tract infections and we have the science to prove that hand hygiene will
decrease your chance of getting these infections by 31% and 21%
respectively. We’re certainly doing a
better job starting in Pre-School to reinforce the need and importance of
washing your hands and covering your mouth.
I’m not sure if I’m proud or embarrassed, but my son is the class tattle
tale if he sees his pre-school classmates coming out of the bathroom without
washing their hands….
been associated with outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis and upper respiratory
tract infections and we have the science to prove that hand hygiene will
decrease your chance of getting these infections by 31% and 21%
respectively. We’re certainly doing a
better job starting in Pre-School to reinforce the need and importance of
washing your hands and covering your mouth.
I’m not sure if I’m proud or embarrassed, but my son is the class tattle
tale if he sees his pre-school classmates coming out of the bathroom without
washing their hands….
Perhaps when we’re sending our college age kids off to
school, we need to reinforce the importance of cleaning their rooms as
well. And dads…you may want to tell your
sons they will have a better chance finding a girl if they shower daily and
brush their teeth!
school, we need to reinforce the importance of cleaning their rooms as
well. And dads…you may want to tell your
sons they will have a better chance finding a girl if they shower daily and
brush their teeth!
This week I participated in a webinar titled “A Clean Approach to Flu Prevention” where we touched on the science behind why we need
to clean, hand hygiene and how to clean.
It ties in nicely with this blog and maybe if your kid won’t sit and
listen to you expound on the virtue of good personal hygiene, perhaps they’ll
watch a video!
to clean, hand hygiene and how to clean.
It ties in nicely with this blog and maybe if your kid won’t sit and
listen to you expound on the virtue of good personal hygiene, perhaps they’ll
watch a video!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
