Latest articles from research and practice
DISINFACTS 2/2020
A virus is keeping the world on tenterhooks, the existence of which nobody suspected not even half a year ago: Read in the current DISINFACTS what we can learn from the Corona pandemic and why new types of pathogens remain a permanent global risk. Other topics include "200 years of Florence Nightingale - What can we still learn today from the founder of modern nursing" and the "Patient Room of the Future".
World Hand Hygiene Day: We say thank you!
“SAVE LIVES: Clean Your Hands” – this is the motto of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the “World Hand Hygiene Day” on May 5th, 2020. As good care starts with thorough hand hygiene, nurses and midwives are especially challenged. And anyone who takes this decisive hygiene measure to heart—despite an extraordinarily challenging day at work – deserves a big “thank you” from us!
SARS-CoV-2 – Handling fake news the right way
False information about SARS-CoV-2 has become a problem. Myths and misinformation are circulating about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, the disease it causes.
Newly emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
The so far unknown virus SARS-CoV-2 which is responsible for the 2019 emerged COVID-19 outbreak (Coronavirus disease 2019) belongs to the Coronaviruses within the family Coronaviridae.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW):
Fighting antibiotic resistance globally
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the uninhibited emergence of new antibiotic resistances has become the "greatest and most urgent global threat". The reason: infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens and the associated deaths are increasing rapidly all around the world.
The International Patient Safety Day becomes the World Patient Safety Day
Patients and visitors are currently not heavily involved in infection prevention measures. However, the Robert Koch-Institute recommends to actively involve patients and visitors in measures of hand hygiene for the time of their hospital stay. Read on to learn more about how patients can contribute.
World Hand Hygiene Day: Clean care for all
Under the banner of “Clean care for all—it’s in your hands”, on 5 May 2019, WHO calls for a global commitment to achieving access to quality healthcare services and hygienic patient care.
Better hand hygiene and the establishment of WHO’s eight core elements—fundamental infection prevention measures—is crucial for achieving this goal.
Join in: Patient empowerment in hand hygiene
When it comes to hand hygiene, healthcare workers are often the main target group. On the other hand, current research suggests that actively involving patients in hand hygiene practices could be beneficial. WHO guidelines also include such recommendations.
For a successful implementation, certain requirements have to be met.
Benefits of hand disinfection: Also proved for when at home or travelling
Contrary to current media reports, which say that it is pointless or even dangerous to perform hygienic hand disinfection at home or when travelling, it has been proven that this measure may help prevent infection. Here, you will find the recommendations of leading hygiene experts.
Noroviruses: Efficient hygiene management to prevent infection
Although being more active during the winter months, noroviruses may also cause infections and outbreaks in the summer. To prevent further spread it is important to strictly observe certain hygiene measures – with focus on hand hygiene. Learn more and download our concise infographic.
How is your Hospital’s Hand Hygiene Compliance?
Take the test to find out the hygiene management status in your healthcare setting.
Take the Test to find out!
Success of multimodal hand hygiene programmes
Hygiene experts throughout the world agree: in order to improve compliance, strategies need to target the differing barriers and obstacles to successful hand disinfection at several levels. The success of multimodal programmes is due to a mix of, for example, training courses, the availability of products, observation, and feedback.
Studies: Multimodal hand hygiene programmes improve compliance
The effectiveness of multimodal programmes is at the focus of many scientific investigations. The studies, including a recent review, show: evidence-based multimodal interventions are capable of increasing hand hygiene compliance significantly and thus reducing the nosocomial infection rate.
Table: Hygiene measures in the event of MRGN
Multi-resistant Gram-negative pathogens are on the rise worldwide. Due to the limited possibilities for treating infections, hygiene measures for preventing the transmission of pathogens are key. Depending on the pathogens’ resistance patterns and the hospital area concerned, basic hygiene needs to be complemented by further measures.
Study: Disposable wipes increase surface disinfection compliance
In a comparative study, pre-soaked disposable wipes resulted in significantly better employees’ compliance than the bucket method. The disposable surface disinfection wipes also performed better in terms of time needed and costs.
