Hospital Stays are 5x higher When No Hand Hygiene Program exists

While everyone is busy slashing budgets, below is an extract from a paper published by handhygiene.net Sort of eye-opening, and another reminder that a mere $1000 in "spending costs" on certain products and approaches can save literally millions of dollars, and countless lives.

We heard about a hospital in Rhode Island that actually cut back on spending to refill soap dispensers in public areas. We didn't believe it, so we visited the hospital last month. Half of the soap dispensers were actually empty.

Aside, when it comes to the topic of hand sanitizers, we keep hearing from 'experts' that rest their laurels on the CDC's 'hand hygiene white paper', the one that was originally published in 1996 and "recommends" alcohol-based gels when washing with soap and water isn't convenient.

"..That's simply not true..", according to senior spokesperson Kathleen Stewart . She says "the CDC only recommends washing with with soap (non-antimicrobial) and water. We defer to people to do their own research when it comes to hand sanitizer products and formulas.."

Exactly why the experts that are getting up to speed are concluding that alcohol-free alternatives actually exist (just one example is "Hy5", they're actually just as effective when considering the wide spectrum of pathogens, they're safer to the skin, and in point of fact are 2x-3x more cost effective when compared to legacy alcohol-based gels.

Cost of Healthcare Associated Infections

In the state of Pennsylvania, the number of healthcare associated infections increased 58% to 30,237 reported cases in 2006 compared to 19,154 cases in 2005. Looking at the data, the mortality rate of patients who acquired HAIs was 6 times higher than patients without HAIs. We recognize that the cost of human life is high, but the study goes beyond and calculates the operational costs of the healthcare facilities.

On average, the hospital charge for admitted patients without HAIs was $33,260. In contrast, the average hospital charge for admitted patient with HAIs was $175,964. In addition, the average length of stay in hospital while the patient was admitted was higher by 5 times the amount in patients with HAIs. The findings of this study draw the conclusion that HAIs are responsible for a large chunk of health care costs. Experts agree that the single most effective measure for combating HAIs in hospitals is improving hand hygiene which leads to a reduction in the high costs of health care.

The incremental operating cost of a healthcare associated infection is calculated at thousands of dollars. If a hand hygiene campaign is able to prevent one HAI, the efforts will not have been for naught. Experts from CDC and APIC speak with unison regarding the need to improve hand hygiene around the world. Preventing healthcare-associated infections is the best way of attacking the HAI problem and good hand hygiene is recognized as the single most effective method of preventing HAIs

Latest Study: Nurses Say No To Alcohol Hand Sanitizers; Dermatitis

Nurses’ perceptions of the benefits and adverse effects of hand disinfection: alcohol-based hand rubs vs. hygienic handwashing: a multicentre questionnaire study with additional patch testing by the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group.

Excerpts from the study are below; what a shame that none of these nurses seem to be aware there are alcohol-free, rinse free hand sanitizers...

ADI= Alcohol Disinfection; HW= Hand Washing


The majority (PS 60.1%; MC 69.5%) of nurses considered ADI to be more damaging than HW. Mostly, ADI and HW were suspected to have irritant effects (ADI 79.2%/52.1%; HW 65.5%/36.2%) compared with an allergenic potential (ADI 10.4%/5.8%; HW 7.8%/3.9%). The prevalence of hand dermatitis in the MC was 13.4% by self-diagnosis and 22.4% by symptom-based questions. In 50 tested individuals no sensitization and only two irritant reactions to alcohols and three single-positive reactions to ABHRs were observed, none of the latter related to alcohols. Conclusions Although ADI is known to cause less skin irritation than HW, nurses perceive ADI as more damaging, resulting in: (i) a low compliance with ADI and (ii) a higher prevalence of hand dermatitis because the more deleterious HW is preferred. This may result in an increase in occupational disease and nosocomial infections.

Alternative alcohol-free hand sanitizers that contain the organic compound benzalkonium chloride are hypoallergenic and antiseptic--and do not cause dermititis, nor do they destroy protective skin cells.

As hospital infections spread, so do medical-malpractice lawsuits

"...At a minimum, attorneys that represent hospitals should advise them to have policies on infection prevention, such as hand-hygiene policies..."

"...She suggested that attorneys advise hospitals to take stronger measures, such as penalizing those who violate hand-hygiene rules and screening incoming patients for MRSA. About 126,000 people are hospitalized with MRSA infections each year and about 5,000 die, the CDC reported..."

Hospitals have long had policies calling for medical personnel to keep their hands clean before and after seeing patients and for support staff to disinfect the facilities regularly. But historically those policies have not been as strictly enforced as they should have been, Manley said.

"...hospitals and doctors are more likely to be sued over infections if they don’t implement proven methods to prevent them..."

Yet another article raising the hands on the issue of hand hygiene in health care venues....Of course, 99.9% of hospitals are still looking at a 1996 manual from CDC that purportedly promotes alcohol gel sanitizers, despite the fact that CDC spokesperson Kathleen Stewart vehemently states that "CDC does not recommend alcohol-based gels..." leaving the door open to proactive administrators that understand the distinctions between the newer, non-alcohol, rinse free hand sanitizer products that are just as effective as the legacy products, but are non-irritating to the skin, non-flammable and non-toxic..

Round of Applause To Proactive School Nurses Re: Hand Hygiene Initiative

Nice round of applause to the head nurses at each of the following school districts that paid close attention when the manufacturer of Soapopular alcohol free hand free hand sanitizer responded to a nurse's message on a school nurse chat site seeking free hygiene products:

Thanks to Mary Ferone, RN of Plainfield IL, and in less than four hours, the folks at MGS Brands, the US Distributor of Soapopular extended their hands to the head nurses at 7 major school districts, and facilitated the delivery of Soapopular product to more than 2500 elementary and high school students and teaching staff at schools in Barrington IL; Carlinville, IL; Warren, NJ; Waterville,ME; Lafayette,IN; West Milton, OH, and Mission, TX.

Nice job nurses!!

Shopping Carts & Hand Hygiene: An Innovative Approach

We're happy to extend a hats off to Wisconsin-based PureCarts Inc., a company that has developed a mini, car wash-like device for shopping carts, a vehicle that is long known for transporting not only grocery items and little tikes while shopping in the supermarket, but for carrying any number of germs, bacteria and viruses.

The 'drive-thru' devices are somewhat outsized, and not inexpensive for grocery stores or big box retailers to lease, but its reasonable to suggest that the indirect cost savings to store operators, their employees, and their guests should more than offset the annual cost of each device.

The disinfect formula used to spray down the carts is a derivative of hydrogen peroxide, and otherwise a compelling food-safe formula that disinfects surfaces, and is residue free before a shopper hands would come in contact with the shopping cart.

The Fight Against Clostridium Difficile: New Drug Shows Promise

San Diego-based Optimer Pharmaceuticals says that that its newly developed antiobiotic is showing significant promise as a weapon in the war against the notorious superbug, Clostridium Difficile a/k/a C.difficile, a/k/a C.diff.

The superbug, which leads to septic shock in close to 10% of those that acquire the virus, overshadows MRSA as being one of the most prevalent hospital-acquired viruses, and health care experts have estimated that attacking C.diff costs more than $1 billion a year in the US alone.

Although clinical trials can extend for months, if not years, we clap our hands in support of efforts to quash C.diff, and in the interim, we continue to support all efforts that promote proper hand hygiene as the most effective way to stem the transmission of easily-acquired bacteria and viruses.

Washing with non-antimicrobial soap is the first line of defense, and if washing with soap and water isn't readily available, be smart about the hand sanitizer product that you use. Alcohol-free, rinse free hand sanitizer products; those that contain the organic compound benzalkonium chloride, are being widely embraced by infection control experts as the most pragmatic alternative to alcohol-based gels, which are being eschewed by those that finally understand the negative 'features' of legacy alcohol based products--they destroy protective skin cells, cause dry/irritated skin, and in turn exposing users to increased risk of acquiring the same bacteria and viruses that the products are supposedly protecting against.

And yes, alcohol-based gels kill germs-presuming you've washed your hands of dirt prior to applying--and while killing germs, the alcohol gel will also kill industrial floor wax, paint, materials, and just about anything else that you apply it to..Great product for stripping paint...but not for putting into your hands...Do the research..we've profiled at least several alcohol-free, rinse free, fragrance and dye free products in this column!

Women's Hands Home to More Types of Germs

Based on a just released study from the University of Colorado, which found women's hands have a veritable United Nations of germs compared to men's, it comes as no surprise that women represent 75% of the close to $100 million in US hand sanitizer product sales.

But more interesting: both genders house vastly more bacteria on their palms than previously suspected, according to the study which appears in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

On average, each hand studied was home to about 150 different species of bacteria. Overall, more than 4,700 bacterial species were identified on all hands, only five of which were common among all volunteers.

Of perhaps the most interesting finding: In general, hand washing did not seem to affect the diversity of bacteria (though it's still a good practice, the researchers stressed). Either the bacteria come back quickly after hand washing (at least the kind of hand washing practiced by these volunteers) or hand washing just doesn't dislodge bacteria, they said.

Another good reason to research hand sanitizer products, and to understand the distinctions between the flammable gels formulated with alcohol, vs those with organic compounds that are intended to protect skin cells, while providing extended persistency in the course of defending against germs and bacteria.

University of Virginia Study: Hand Hygiene, including use of Proper Hand Sanitizer Reduces Cold& Flu Symptoms By Up to 50%

Scientists at the University of Virginia, long known for its virology research, tested surfaces in the homes of people with colds and reported the results Tuesday at the nation’s premier conference on infectious diseases.

For the new study, researchers started with 30 adults showing early symptoms of colds. Sixteen tested positive for rhinovirus, which causes about half of all colds. They were asked to name 10 places in their homes they had touched in the preceding 18 hours, and researchers used DNA tests to hunt for rhinovirus.

“We found that commonly touched areas like refrigerator doors and handles were positive about 40 percent of the time” for cold germs, Winther said.

In a separate study, the university’s Drs. Diane Pappas and Owen Hendley went germ-hunting on toys in the offices of five pediatricians in Fairfax, Va., three times during last year’s cold and flu season.

Tests showed fragments of cold viruses on 20 percent of all toys tested — 20 percent of those in the “sick child” waiting room, 17 percent in the “well child” waiting room, and 30 percent in a sack of toys that kids are allowed to choose from after being good for a shot.

“Mamas know this,” Hendley said. “They say, `We go to a doctor for a well-child checkup, the kids play with the toys and two days later they have a cold.’”

Doctors have long advised frequent hand-washing to avoid spreading germs. Wearing surgical masks and using hand sanitizers also can help, a novel University of Michigan study found.

About 1,000 students who live in dorms tested these measures for six weeks during the 2006-07 flu season. They were divided into three groups: those who wore masks, those who wore masks and used an alcohol free hand sanitizer, and those who did neither.

The two groups who used masks reported 10 percent to 50 percent fewer cold symptoms — cough, fever, chills — than the group who used no prevention measures.

US Congressman Convicted of DUI: Attorney Attributes It To Alcohol In Purell Hand Sanitizer

Excerpt from Oct 18 2008 Washington Post:
"...After a nearly eight-hour trial in Alexandria traffic court, Rep. Vito Fossella of New York was found guilty last night of driving under the influence, but the judge did not decide whether the Republican congressman was so drunk he should go to jail.
...During breaks on the floor, Fossella said, he sometimes repaired to a side office and cleaned his hands with Purell, a hand sanitizer that is more than 60 percent ethyl alcohol, according to its manufacturer. His attorneys said the alcohol in the Purell contributed to the elevated blood-alcohol reading many hours later..."

One can simply go to YouTube.com and search key words "alcohol hand sanitizer" to discover how easy it is to make a 120 proof cocktail by mixing Purell into club soda.
Just another reason why we're becoming ever so popular for promoting the use of alcohol-free hand sanitizers

UN Celebrates Global Hand Washing Day -BBC News Reports 1:4 Subway Riders Pose Risk to Commuters

And at the same time, this news report from BBC-

Scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine swabbed 409 people at bus and train stations in five major cities in England and Wales.More than one in four commuters has bacteria from faeces on their hands, an investigation suggests.

The further north they went, the more often they found commuters with faecal bacteria on their hands - men in Newcastle were the worst offenders.

Experts stressed the importance of hand hygiene for preventing illness.

The bacteria found suggested people were not washing their hands properly after using the toilet, said the researchers.