Hospitals stress need for clean hands
IN an attempt to address a serious problem with antibiotic-resistant infections at Livingstone Hospital, the head of infectious diseases at the hospital, Dr John Black, yesterday kicked off a handwashing marathon.
His aim is to encourage healthcare providers and general workers at the hospital to wash their hands correctly and regularly.
The problem of so-called hospital infections also affects private hospitals, with the infection control coordinator for Life St George’s Hospital, Samantha Valentine, saying they believed up to 80% of antibiotic-resistant infections could be prevented by proper handwashing.
Hospitals around Nelson Mandela Bay joined in a global handwashing marathon yesterday, World Hygiene Day, to create awareness around the prevention of hospital infections.
“Our hospital, through our infection prevention teams, is excited about this campaign especially as we head into the cold and flu season,” Life Healthcare’s Bruce Janssens, manager for the Borde-Kei and Port Elizabeth regions, said. “Even if we reach a small portion of the community, we will have made some impact and we hope they will see the importance of hand hygiene.”
Valentine said a hand hygiene relay would be held as part of a “global” event at the hospital. “Clean hands mean healthy patients,” she said.
She said even outside of hospital everyone could contribute to better health by washing their hands regularly with hot water and soap and then drying them properly.
“In ideal conditions you must wet your hands first, lather your hands with soap for 30 seconds or for how long it takes to sing Happy Birthday,” she said.
“We believe that up to 80% of all hospital infections can be avoided by proper handwashing,” she said.
Valentine said they were trying to reach all hospital personnel with the message.
“Porters, hostesses and general workers can also all spread a hospital infection.”
Valentine said that even in less than ideal conditions, a waterless hand-cleaner could make a big difference.
“We are investing a lot of time to get this message to our students because they are eager to learn the right thing to do,” she said. “We do this for our patients.”
At Livingstone, staff lined five flights of stairs in their handwashing marathon.
Black said Livingstone Hospital had a huge problem with drug-resistant bacteria.
“These infections will soon be impossible to treat,” he said. “We need to stop the spread of these bacteria.
“If we don’t start a strict handwashing regime this hospital will become a dangerous place and we, as the healthcare providers, will become the most dangerous people in the facility,” he said.
At Netcare Greenacres Hospital, the infection control coordinator, Sharlette Cullis, spearheaded a friendly rivalry between the different departments to come up with the best idea to promote hand hygiene in the hospital.
The winners of the competition at the hospital will be announced today.