5.05.2020 05:00
(Act. 5.05.2020 05:00)
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The “International Hand Hygiene Day” takes place on May 5th.
© pixabay.com (subject)
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On May 5, the “International Hand Hygiene Day” will take place for the 12th time. This year it is under the motto “wash hands – save lives”.
The “International Hand Hygiene Day” is more important than ever this year. Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 5th, the importance of hand cleaning as an infection prophylaxis will be underlined for the twelfth time. In times of Corona pandemic regular washing of hands is more firmly anchored in the minds of the population than ever.
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“Wash hands – save lives”: focus on hand hygiene
“Wash hands – save lives” is the motto of the World Day, which is sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO). In any case, hand hygiene has become the focus of attention: “There is more awareness that it is of great prophylactic importance not only for health personnel, but for all people,” said Klaus Markstaller, President of the Austrian Society for Anesthesia, Resuscitation and Intensive care medicine (ÖGARI).
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A team of British researchers investigated whether cultural differences between countries and regions in terms of hand hygiene have an impact on the rate of spread of SARS-CoV-2 infections. According to a study in China, 77 percent of the population do not have a habit of washing their hands after going to the toilet. It is 70 percent in Japan and 61 percent in South Korea. The percentage is also high in Italy (43), in Austria it is 35 percent according to the data collected in 2015.
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According to the British study, the habit of washing one’s hands correlates strongly with the degree of the onset of corona diseases. “There are probably many factors that contribute to the large differences in the extent to which the new coronavirus spreads in different countries. However, with our model we can show that the hand hygiene culture is an important factor to reduce the heterogeneity of the size of the To explain outbreaks, “wrote the authors.
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Maintain awareness of hand hygiene culture
It is important that the new hand hygiene culture and the awareness raised in this regard continue to exist, says Markstaller. “An important and stated milestone of corona pandemic management has been achieved in Austria. But even after the relaxation of regulations, we will continue to take precautionary measures that are important for keeping the spread of SARS-CoV-2 under control in the future. have to accompany for a long time, so that this positive balance remains, “emphasized the head of the university clinic for anesthesia, general intensive care medicine and pain therapy.
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In addition to Covid-19, patients in intensive care units are particularly affected. You are five to ten times more likely to get an infection at the hospital. There is a need to catch up there, as studies would show. Patients also play an important role in this. “It would be desirable for patients in the hospital not only to pay attention to their own hand hygiene, provided that they are mobile and able to do so, but also to speak directly to the hospital staff should hand hygiene be neglected before contact,” recommends Markstaller.
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