Safety and sanitation in the workplace.

https://osu.app.box.com/s/yzjb809hg9tx6zg5jhm2d1r24r0x9y8s

Hand hygiene, social distancing, the proper use of PPE and routine cleaning—helps to reduce and limit the spread of viruses and infection to keep staff and patients safe.

I noticed from reading old (2009) recommendations during that pandemic (which didn't close down the economy or lockdown our normal activities) that sloppy habits of hygiene returned after the emergency passed. I hope some of these guidelines continue, like NOT EATING at workstations, and that applies not just to ICU, clinics, receptionist areas, but at ALL work places. It's difficult enough to clean computer equipment and keyboards, without adding the grease from French fries and Fritos. Plus for the patients nearby, there is the smell problem.

And I don't consider constant use of sanitizer a substitute for thorough hand washing with soap.

Wash your hands with soap to kill both bacteria and viruses

Toilet paper seems to have returned to Marc's, and now chicken is disappearing. Bleach seems to be in short supply. Still don't see a lot of antiseptic hand cleaner. I wonder how many people who buy that know that soap and water is still the best for both viruses and bacteria.  Maybe some of those Happy Talk commercials on what fun it is to stay locked down could be replaced by videos of proper hand washing?

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/antibacterial-soap-you-can-skip-it-use-plain-soap-and-water

http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017/say-goodbye-antibacterial-soaps-fda-banning-household-item/

While we’re all washing, don’t forget. . .fingernails

Let me add one more health measure I haven't seen mentioned. Your fingernails. Trim them shorter than usual. Fake nails are factories of bacteria and fungus. Painted natural nails are too in that you can't see the crude they accumulate and cracks harbor critters. Yes, this is a virus, but you don't want to add to the stew, especially if you are working in any health facility or food service. If you're in veterinary medicine, you don't want to share your work with your pet at home.

"A real threat to patients lurks at the very tips of health-care workers’ fingers. Even when properly washed and gloved, the risk of infection is still there. The threat is pathogens harbored beneath artificial fingernails. If clinicians forgo artificial fingernails, it could make a significant difference in infection control. Studies have shown that artificial nails, as well as chipped nail polish, possess a greater amount of gram negative bacteria and pathogens than natural nails. The grooves and rough areas create a prefect space for bacteria to thrive."

https://www.rdhmag.com/pathology/public-health/article/16407021/infection-control-right-at-your-fingertips?

Hand hygiene is not a no-brainer

“Healthcare workers also need to learn the proper technique for hand hygiene. People are supposed to rub their hands together for a minimum of 15 seconds when washing their hands. When Renee Watson, RNC, BSN, CPHQ, CIC, manager of infection prevention and epidemiology at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta asks physicians and staff to mime rubbing their hands together to wash hands in a training session, however, they usually drop off around seven or eight seconds. Even people who think they wash their hands for the full 15 seconds typically do not meet that minimum in the training exercise, she says. Awareness of both the proper technique and one's execution of this technique is therefore critical to ensuring hand hygiene compliance and preventing infections.

Another important lesson is the difference between soap and water and alcohol sanitizers, according to Ms. Watson. Alcohol hand sanitizers are more effective at eliminating pathogens except when hands are visibly soiled, when the caregiver has blood and body fluids on their hands or when they have worked with specific organisms that require mechanical removal — for which soap and water should be used, she says. “

4 essentials of hand hygiene

Sanitizer on my shoe

Given a choice, soap and water is a much more effective way to fight germs than a hand sanitizer. However, I keep a small pump bottle of the alcohol hand cleaner in the cup holder of my van for quick clean ups. The last time I bought one the pump top wouldn't unscrew and my empties were the wrong size. This morning at the store I passed the shelf with the hand cleaners and I picked one up to put in the cart. But I wasn't going to be fooled, so I tested the top to see if it would unscrew. It did--getting a small amount on my hand. So I attempted to screw it back down, and a small amount squirted to the floor, so I tried again, and a giant splat hit my shoe. Well, I don't know if it kills 68% of common bacteria, but it will certainly take the shine off your shoe!

Washing Hands With Soap vs. Hand Sanitizer: Which Is Better? - ABC News

Smells yummy

Many years ago we went out for dinner with Sam and Molly, Tom and Pat. New Year's Eve, I think. Molly and I went to the ladies' room. She told me something I've never forgotten. She was an RN and was told during her training that the soap dish was the germiest place in the hospital/home/office. I doubt that hospitals use soap dishes any more, but we do have them in our homes, and it does make sense--dirt, plus moisture, plus air. Here at the lake I have a cute little row boat shaped soap dish. However, I enjoy using a commerical pump soap container, too. I suspect the ones you fill from a container are probably also contaminated. My hairdresser, the fabulous Melissa, told me once not to add water to shampoo because bacteria would grow. Gosh, the world is full of germs, isn't.

Anyway, I love the fragrance of Softsoap Black raspberry and vanilla. Yes, this is an endorsement, although not paid. Bloggers need to watch out for that. Not sure which czar is coming after you, but you're going to be one of the non-rich who will be taxed or punished for product placement on your site if you don't tell your readers (Mommy bloggers, beware). Generally, I don't use anti-bacterial soap--just the suds and water and scrubbing.

Interesting article on hand sniffing monitor in hospitals to reduce nosocomial infections.

Soapy, the Germ Fighter

So, it looks a little corny for today's audiences, but it gets the message across about washing your hands. Good information, fun piece.

From Internet Archive. It's got great old movies and documentaries and commercials.

I worry about the losers in this contest

I realize that these days you have to have contests and rewards to encourage workers to do what's expected of them, but hand washing should not be negotiable!

"100 Percent Hand Hygiene Club Congratulations to staff on 8 Rhodes (Progressive Care and ICU) for 100 percent hand hygiene compliance in October. They were selected from inpatient units in UH, Ross, Dodd, UH East and outpatient areas that had 100-percent compliance. To properly wash your hands, wet them with water, apply soap and rub your hands together for 15 seconds. Rinse and dry with a disposable towel, and use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid re-contaminating your hands. You can also use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating your hands." News story from OSU MEDICAL CENTER Today.

Here's what St. Raphael says about hand hygiene

Why do we need to improve hand hygiene practices?”
• Serious nosocomial infections
• 90,000 patient deaths per year
• Costs of treatment: $4.5 Billion per year in the U.S.
• Hand washing compliance rates are unacceptable (average 40 percent)

St Raphael is battling this problem at its web site on hand hygiene and bring awareness to the general public and other hospitals.

Kudos for doing your job!

"9 East Rhodes Achieves 100 Percent Hand Hygiene

Congratulations to faculty and staff in 9 East Rhodes Hall for receiving 100 percent hand hygiene compliance in August. They were selected from 24 inpatient units at UH, Ross, Dodd Hall and UH East and outpatient areas that had 100 percent compliance. To properly wash your hands, wet them with water, apply soap and rub your hands together for 15 seconds. Rinse and dry with a disposable towel then use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid re-contaminating your hands. You can also use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating your hands."

Below a recruitment notice for overweight people to participate in a heart study, I noticed this item for keeping the Buckeye spirit:

Nutrition Services will begin carrying Suisse Shop cupcakes tomorrow (Sept. 23) at Seasons Cafe at UH and Seasons Express at Ackerman and Morehouse. The cupcakes were selected by Columbus Monthly as the "Best of Columbus 2008." Cupcake varieties include a Buckeye cupcake (chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting and topped with a candy buckeye), Waldorf Red cupcake (with Waldorf Astoria frosting and topped with scarlet and gray sprinkles), White Empress cupcake (chocolate with white truffle frosting) and vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with french buttercream frosting. All cupcakes are available for $2.29 each.

OSU Medical Center This Week Newsletter, September 22, 2008

Makes me worry if there are losing teams

100 Percent Hand Hygiene Club

"Congratulations to physical therapy staff at Morehouse Medical Plaza for receiving 100 percent hand hygiene compliance in July and being recognized at recent supervisory council meetings. Staff were selected from 17 inpatient units in UH, Ross, Dodd and UH East and outpatient areas that had 100 percent compliance. To properly wash your hands, wet them with water, apply soap and rub your hands together for 15 seconds. Rinse and dry with a disposable towel (use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid re-contaminating your hands). Or, use an alcohol-based hand rub for routinely decontaminating your hands." Seen at OSU Medical College newsletter.

Hand Hygiene

A gift basket? I know that these days you need to award employees for using a tissue to sneeze, but this award sounds a bit over the top to me.

"Congratulations to Taleatha Poole of Medical Information Management who won a gift basket in the May 22 Nutrition Services Hand Hygiene event prize drawing." OSU Medical Center This Week

Why isn't hand hygiene expected and enforced in Nutrition Services as a requirement of keeping the job? When I started my first professional position I needed some on the job supervision and training from my department head. Why is less expected in a medical center?