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Physician Proper hand hygiene reduces the risk of infection by 30 percent
On the occasion of the International Day of Hand Hygiene, health experts draw attention to the importance of washing their hands every year. This simple and rapid measure drastically reduces the risk of infectious diseases. But washing your hands must be thorough enough.
Many infectious diseases are transmitted through the hands
According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, up to 80 percent of all infectious diseases are transmitted by hand. According to medical experts, the risk of developing gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, flu or cold can be significantly reduced by proper hand washing. Nevertheless, the hygiene is often too short. Reason enough for health professionals to point out this important measure on the occasion of the World Day of Hand Hygiene on 5 May.
Proper hand hygiene reduces the risk of infection for various diseases by up to 30 percent. But the hand washing must be done thoroughly enough. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia.com) Takes only half a minute
Hand washing is considered the most important hygiene rule ever. It can significantly reduce the risk of various diseases.
However, to protect against infectious diseases, hand washing must be done properly and long enough.
It should take at least 20 to 30 seconds. Here a song can help. The Unicef Children's Fund once recommended that children sing Happy Birthday twice by washing their hands.
This is the optimal time to remove the most dangerous bacteria and viruses. The advice for children is not wrong even for adults.
Hand hygiene in health facilities
Even more important than in private life is hand hygiene in health care facilities. Even there, it is the simplest and most effective measure to prevent the transmission of pathogens and thus the occurrence of infections.
According to Elisabeth Presterl, head of the University Hospital for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Control at MedUni Vienna and AKH Vienna, hand hygiene with hand disinfection before and after a patient contact, whether by a doctor or visit, reduces the risk of infection by 30 percent.
"Hand hygiene is of particular importance in a hospital. Also for the visitors ", said the expert in a communication. "It is equally important that no one comes to visit who is ill himself. The risk of infection is too high, "says Presterl.
Children may also be dirty sometimes
However, the doctor does not believe in "exaggerated" hygiene in children's everyday life: "They should also be a child and sometimes be dirty, but when they come home and after the toilet, hand washing is very important."
According to the expert, optimal hand hygiene reduces the risk of infection by 30 percent - with a simple and very short operation: "Hand hygiene is simple, effective and takes less than 30 seconds, but can save lives," emphasized Presterl.
"With the increasing number of multi-resistant pathogens, it is important to remember the importance of preventing transmission of infections and their pathogens."
According to international studies, a reduction in the rate of hand disinfection from 48 percent to 66 percent is followed by a reduction in infections from 17 percent to 10 percent. (Ad)