Hand Cleaning Reduces Hospital-Acquired Infections

Many cases of hospital-acquired infection can be prevented by a new hand-cleaning product that has an alcohol content of 78%.

A report from the UK National Audit Office suggests that the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) could be reduced by 15% by putting an emphasis on hand hygiene. The new hand-cleaning product is effective in 30 seconds against 99.9% of the most common germs, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), hepatitis B and C, HIV, vaccinia viruses, and rotavirus and adenoviruses.

The UK National Patient Safety Agency (PASA) is launching a "cleanyourhands” campaign. If hand hygiene was improved, an estimated 5,000 deaths a year from MRSA infection could be avoided, according to PASA. Studies have shown that only 57% of doctors adhere to standard hand hygiene practices. This means that when patients are being examined by doctors, seen by specialists, or even being operated on by surgeons, there is nearly a 50% chance that the doctors did not wash their hands beforehand. The reasons are that current products are not pleasant to use, and hand cleaning is laborious and time consuming.

The new hand cleaner is the product of Braun Medical (B. Braun Melungen, Germany), which has been awarded a contract to supply the UK National Health Service with its Softalind range of alcohol-based hand rubs. The company notes that alcohol rubs are quicker and more effective for avoiding transmission of infection from patient to patient than hand washing alone.




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