Hand washing is the most important hygiene rule

Many Germans neglect to wash their hands

05/05/2014

On the occasion of today's World Hygiene Day, the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) has pointed in a recent press release on the importance of hand washing for the prevention of infections. The BZgA study „Attitudes, knowledge and behavior of the general population on hygiene and infection control“ show that many Germans neglect hand washing as the most important hygiene rule.

It is not without reason that the World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted 5.5 for the World Hygiene Day. selected. The date stands for the five fingers on each hand and underscores the importance of hand washing for infection control. Compliance with this simple hygiene rule could, „especially in the immediate environment, the risk of infection in disease waves significantly lower“, reports the BZgA. However, the study from last year has shown that a significant proportion of Germans do not regularly wash their hands when dealing with infectious diseases in their immediate environment.

Neglected hand hygiene
More than 30 percent of the 4,483 respondents stated in the study, „Do not always wash your hands when you are with someone who has had flu or a gastrointestinal infection“, reports the BZgA. The probability of transmission of pathogens is increased accordingly. In addition, less than half of respondents would „almost always“ wash your hands, „before visiting someone who has a health problem due to illness“, so the message of the Federal Agency on.

Weaknesses also in the hygiene in the household
Not only in hand hygiene, but also in household hygiene, the BZgA study revealed some negligence on the part of the population. If someone in the house suffers from an infectious disease, cleans the Beiziel according to BZgA „just under a quarter of respondents said household items or surfaces after use.“ In addition, only 17 percent of respondents would always dispose of diseased persons as spatially as possible from the other members of the household in order to reduce the risk of infection in infectious diseases.

Hygiene tips to minimize the risk of infection
The Federal Center for Health Education provides on its website a lot of information on hygiene and minimizing the risk of infection in diseases in a personal environment. „Those who pay attention to hygiene care for their own health and those of others“, explained the director of the BZgA, Prof. Dr. med. Elisabeth Pott. „Correct and regular hand washing plays a central role here“, The BZgA director continues. The BZgA provides easy-to-understand hygiene tips with the film „Hygiene in case of illness' ready. In addition, on the page www.infektionsschutz.de „Pathogen profiles to frequent infections and important transmission routes“ According to the BZgA communication. (Fp)