Doctors And Nurses Urged To Give Up Handwashing

[nightingale, RN]

Interesting article; We used the gel a lot in Home Health.

DOCTORS URGED TO GIVE UP HANDWASHING (10/29/2002 10:00:00 AM)

The American government has issued guidelines urging doctors and nurses to abandon the ritual of washing their hands with soap and water between patients and instead rub on fast-drying alcohol gels to kill more germs. The goal is to reduce the hospital spread of viruses and bacteria that infect an estimated 2 million people in the United States each year and kill about 90,000. Many hospitals, anticipating the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have already made the change, and studies show this can cut their infection rates in half. Soap and water have been the standard for generations. But washing up properly between each patient can take a full minute and is often skipped to save time, especially in busy intensive care units where the risk of spreading germs is greatest. While the alcohol based gels and solutions kill more microbes, the main advantage is they are easier to use. (RGS/WNWA/MCM)

© 2002 World Entertainment News Network

[nightingale, RN]

Interesting article; We used the gel a lot in Home Health.

DOCTORS URGED TO GIVE UP HANDWASHING (10/29/2002 10:00:00 AM)

The American government has issued guidelines urging doctors and nurses to abandon the ritual of washing their hands with soap and water between patients and instead rub on fast-drying alcohol gels to kill more germs. The goal is to reduce the hospital spread of viruses and bacteria that infect an estimated 2 million people in the United States each year and kill about 90,000. Many hospitals, anticipating the new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have already made the change, and studies show this can cut their infection rates in half. Soap and water have been the standard for generations. But washing up properly between each patient can take a full minute and is often skipped to save time, especially in busy intensive care units where the risk of spreading germs is greatest. While the alcohol based gels and solutions kill more microbes, the main advantage is they are easier to use. (RGS/WNWA/MCM)

© 2002 World Entertainment News Network