Global Handwashing Day Is October 15

The idea is simple: Washing hands with soap and water removes potential disease-causing organisms from the hands. It is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrhea and pneumonia in global communities, which together are responsible for the majority of child deaths.  Hand hygiene is also the primary method of preventing the transmission of pathogens to and from patients in healthcare settings that result in an estimated 1.4 million bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, chest/respiratory infections or gastrointestinal infections every year.  Handwashing is clearly important, and yet 60% of the time healthcare professionals fail to clean their hands when indicated! 

Friday October 15th will be the 3rd annual celebration of Global Handwashing Day. Launched by the Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap (PPPHW), the goal of Global Handwashing Day is to 1) Foster and support a global and local culture of handwashing with soap, 2) Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country, and 3) Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.  While it primarily revolves around schools and children, it is also a reminder to healthcare professionals and individuals everywhere of the importance of hand hygiene for preventing infection.

Microbes that can be spread on the hands of healthcare staff include Candida, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Hepatitis A virus, Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Strep), Clostridium difficile, Klebsiella and drug-resistant organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).  These microorganisms are found in large numbers in non-intact skin such as wounds, but can also be found on intact skin such as the armpit, trunk and hands. This is why taking a pulse or blood pressure reading can contaminate the hands of healthcare professionals even after seemingly ‘clean’ procedures. Pathogens can survive on the hands for long periods of time and be transferred to door knobs, bed rails and other frequently touched surfaces where they can be picked up and carried to susceptible patients.

There are three types of hand hygiene:

Hand antisepsis using an alcohol-based waterless antiseptic hand rub. Alcohols are more effective than antimicrobial soap and should be used in all clinical situations except when hands are visibly soiled.

Handwashing, either with plain soap and water or with antimicrobial soap and water.  Antimicrobial soap can be used for all clinical situations and should be used for removing blood or body fluids. Additionally, plain or antimicrobial soap should be used when hands are visibly dirty, before eating, and after using the restroom.

Surgical hand antisepsis, using either an alcohol-based hand rub with persistent activity or an antimicrobial soap, recommended before donning sterile gloves.

Schools and communities can improve children mortality rates and improve general health by learning how and when to use soap and water to wash hands. And by following the recommendations of guidelines such as by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO, we can reduce the numbers of patients who acquire healthcare-infections. Let’s build upon a commitment to patient safety by using excellent hand hygiene practices, and clean up our act.

For more information on Envision, Inc.’s staff and patient education videos on hand hygiene, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2dlnefh.

Please visit the Global Handwashing Day website to find useful tools and resources to promote Global Handwashing Day in your healthcare facility, school, or community. www.globalhandwashingday.org

Please visit the World Health Organization’s “Clean Care is Safe Care” site for a variety of resources including guidelines for providers, patient empowerment materials, the latest technological advances in hand hygiene adherence measurement, frequently asked questions, and links to promotional and educational tools published by the WHO, universities, and health departments. www.who.int/gpsc/tools/faqs/about/en/index.html

To review the CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings: www.cdc.gov/handhygiene

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