Great New Reasons to Wash Your Hands, Often!

[BostonTerrierLover]

We as Nurses know this one. We even know little cute ways to know how long to wash them(i.e. alphabet song, happy birthday, etc.). A new study conducted by our University Hospital's Medical Tech Program reminded me that Bacterial Colonies, Fungal Spores, and Viruses love the things we touch the most!

Here is the list of the top 10 "most infected" surfaces according to 10 Students swabbing 218 Inpatient Hospital Items.

10. Toilet Flush Lever

9. Soap Dispenser Button

8. Salt/Pepper Shaker in Staff Cafeteria(see #6)

7. Rim of sink(cleaned daily)

6. Cafeteria Cleaning rag

5. An Elevator button(Ground Floor)

4. Water Fountain Handle

3. (TIE) A Patient's Bed's TV Button and Handle of a Patient's Thermos

2. A Stethoscope's Bell(Owned by Infection Control RN)

1. Nursing Desk Phone

..."best(Worst?) in show"? The "S" key of one of the "Staff Only" Computers. Now I think "Staph Computer" may better sum it up.

"Dishonorable" Mentions: Some surfaces' ranks that didn't make the top 10 included a toilet seat(#88), a hearing aid(#31), a BSC(#47), an Emesis Basin(#20), a used tube of Wound Gel (#11), and an abandoned pair of Dentures left in moist Zip-Lock bag (#12)!!!

Do you have any advice for Infection Control Methods?

What are some disturbing things you have seen, that, if given the authority to change, it would be safer/more sanitary?

Do you wash your hands in patients' room for them to witness?

Is enough hand hygiene taught at your facility, and if so do you see it being followed?

Feel free to answer one or more, or just leave a comment if you wish.

[Barley]

Hydrocarbons (plastics) to microbes are toxic

Bacteria grow easily on plastics (e.g., there are studies of bacteria in offices, and the plastic keyboards are loaded with microbes). There are however microbe-resistant plastics, and there's a recent study about the use of these plastics for curtains: Medscape: Medscape Access

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

This is what really gets me. We go room to room doing vitals. Of course an isolation room has its own. So these cuffs and 02 sat finger things are NEVER washed between patients. WHY is this? I use alcohol swabs to clean it but have no idea if this is the right thing to clean with. If I am ever in a hospital and alert, I will ask for that finger holder to be wiped down.

One of the hospitals I did clinicals at had universal vitals machines, but individual BP cuffs for all patients, not just isolation patients. The cuff is stored on the patient's bedrail (that Velcro comes in handy -- just wrap it on!), and you just connect the two tubes and you're in business. This was nice not only for infection control, but also because each patient was assigned the right size cuff -- no more guessing/hoping you had the right one. And the tubing on the machine is easier to untangle without the big cuff in the way.

And the little basket on the machine held a container of disinfecting wipes for wiping the pulse ox finger clip and the handle on the thermometer, plus the handle for the machine itself.

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

Thanks Barley, well that's one strike against the water bottles, Mr. Harvey might be on to something. I know my dogs automatic 1 Gallon waterer has an Antimicrobial/Bacteria-static in it.

I bet someone out there knows more about what I am going to say, if you do- please comment, but there's some chemical in some plastics that "mocks" estrogen. I think it has been outlawed(not sure) but women who have breast cancer or reproductive organ cancers in their families were advised to throw away old plastic Tupperware, cups, etc. because it could leach into food and liquids- especially if heated(i.e. hot food and drinks, left in hot car, or fluid stored for long periods). I will research this, it's a 3 letter chemical starting with "B."

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

Thanks Barley, well that's one strike against the water bottles, Mr. Harvey might be on to something. I know my dogs automatic 1 Gallon waterer has an Antimicrobial/Bacteriastatic. I bet someone out there knows more about what I am going to say, if you do- please comment, but there's some chemical in some plastics that "mocks" estrogen. I think it has been outlawed(not sure) but women who have breast cancer or reproductive organ cancers in their families were advised to throw away old plastic Tupperware, cups, etc. because it could leach into food and liquids- especially if heated(i.e. hot food and drinks, left in hot car, or fluid stored for long periods). I will research this, it's a 3 letter chemical starting with "B."

You're thinking of BPA, I believe....

[BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN]

You got it, thanks! Just got back from Medscape. That's some nasty stuff, women- do not leave your water bottles in cars or in direct sunlight(regardless of family history). I read about one women who worked in construction who had 11,500 times normal levels of estrogen, was traced to BPA.

Even though it had been removed from most bottled waters plastic- there are still trace amounts of "estrogen/androgen like" molecules that the body can mistake for the hormones. Still going to study up on it- but think about how many times a day we touch plastic.