Latest articles from research and practice
DISINFACTS 3/2020
The world is still confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now – more than ever – infection protection is essential. Read about how ethanol and iso-propanol offer different advantages depending in the context of usage. Find out why experts are discussing the halving of efficacy times in hygienic hand disinfection and which positions they take. Learn more about the possible influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial resistances rates.
Cautious use of antibiotics: campaigns against antibiotic resistance in November 2020
Humanity has been fighting infections caused by pathogens for years and years. Even though there isn’t any medication against viruses, we have a wide range of effective weapons against bacteria available. However, antibiotic resistance is constantly increasing. What happens if we’re soon standing empty-handed? The European Antibiotic Awareness Day (18/11/2020) and World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18–24/11/2020) are taking place in November, in order to increase the awareness of this problem, and with the goal to inform and educate about the cautious use of antibiotics. Learn more and contribute to keeping antibiotics effective!
Clean Hands: Global Handwashing Day 2020
On October 15th we are once again celebrating Global Handwashing Day, which was started by the World Health Organization 12 years ago, in 2008. Long gone are the days when we just casually followed the rule: Wash your hands after you’ve been to the toilet and before you eat. – But since the virus SARS-CoV-2 and with it the risk to acquire COVID-19 entered our lives beginning this year, handwashing became as important as ever.
How to wash your hands properly, everything about proper hand hygiene for young and old in brief, you can find out in our current information material Hand washing and hand disinfection in schools.
Safe medical care for everyone: World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2020
The Aktionsbündnis Patientensicherheit e.V. (Patient safety action group) in Germany has been organising the World Patient Safety Day every September since 2015 to provide patients and healthcare professionals with comprehensive information on safe patient care. We will highlight which topics are particularly important this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic and outline our mission to prevent infections.
Stopping Sepsis, Saving Lives: World Sepsis Day on 13 September 2020
Sepsis is the world’s leading cause of death among preventable diseases. Every year, more than 11 million people die from it. World Sepsis Day takes place every year on 13 September. This day is especially important in 2020 because the COVID-19 pandemic has gradually superseded other diseases. Find out more on how you can engage on this action day and how to stop the spread of sepsis.
Proper Handling of Personal Protective Equipment
Only carful handling of the personal protective equipment offers effective protection against infections. Especially the removal of PPE can lead to the contamination of clothes or of the body. Hence, we prepared descriptive infographics which illustrate how to put on and take off your personal protective equipment.
Infographics for students and teachers: hand hygiene in schools
After school closure in the context of the coronavirus pandemic most students and teachers are returning to school, and proper hand hygiene is gaining significance. We prepared infographics for teachers and students of different ages to help them practice decent hand washing and hand disinfection in schools.
Infographic: Masks in our daily lives, hygienic and safe use
Next to hands and surfaces, infection via droplets is the most common transmission path for SARS-CoV-2. The risk of infection is decreased by wearing face masks which are available as self-made or medical face masks for the protection of others, and as filtering facepieces for the protection of others as well as for oneself. An infographic for download and printing shows you the proper handling of masks.
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.
